Sustainable and specialty fertilizers
Overview
The importance of sustainable and specialty fertilizer markets has grown as producers diversify their product ranges and end users seek more efficient fertilizer compositions. These developments have been further impacted by the drive towards sustainability, which has accelerated interest in these markets.
Argus market experts have many years of experience in these sectors, incorporating price reporting, cost calculations, fundamentals analysis and forecasting.
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Latest sustainable and specialty fertilizers news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global sustainable and specialty fertilizers markets
EU proposes support package for chemicals sector
EU proposes support package for chemicals sector
The measure aims to address high energy costs, global competition and weak demand, writes Dafydd ab Iago Brussels, 15 July (Argus) — The European Commission on 8 July proposed measures to support the EU chemicals sector, aiming to address high energy costs, global competition and weak demand. The plan includes extending emissions trading system (ETS) compensation to more producers and simplifying fertilizer registration rules. The commission says the simplification measures could save the sector €363mn/yr ($423mn/yr). The proposals are part of a broader plan to boost competitiveness and secure supply chains. A new Critical Chemicals Alliance will identify key production sites needing policy support, targeting trade issues such as supply chain dependencies and market distortions. The commission also pledged to apply trade defence measures more quickly and expand chemical import monitoring. Although the commission stopped short of proposing a Critical Chemicals Act — which would legally define specific chemicals for support — it named steam crackers, ammonia, chlorine and methanol as "essential" to the EU economy. The alliance will aim to align investment and co-ordinate support, including through the bloc's Important Projects of Common European Interest programme. The commission also defined low-carbon hydrogen and plans to allow more state aid for electricity-intensive chemical producers by year-end. It encouraged the use of carbon capture, biomass, waste and renewables. The plan uses "all levers" to put the sector back on a growth track, with measures to retain steam crackers and other key assets in Europe, EU industry commissioner Stephane Sejourne says. He also highlighted efforts to secure domestic demand for "clean and made-in-Europe chemicals". Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Alt-fuel ship orders fall in 1H25: DNV
Alt-fuel ship orders fall in 1H25: DNV
Sao Paulo, 15 July (Argus) — Ship orders for new alternative-fuelled vessels fell to 151 in the first half of 2025 compared with 179 a year earlier, according to Norway-based classification agency DNV. These orders represented 19.8mn gross tonnes, up by 78pc from the same period in 2024. LNG-fuelled vessels accounted for 87 of the new orders in the first half, followed by 40 methanol-fuelled ships, 17 LPG-powered vessels, and four hydrogen and three ammonia-fuelled ships. Orders stood at 19 in June, up from 16 in May, with two of these LPG-fuelled carriers. The total fleet of ships that could run on LPG stood at just over 150 in the final quarter of last year , with around 126 on order by 2028 following the latest additions, as orders lag other fuel types despite low prices because of safety issues and a lack of four-stroke engines. New orders, 1H 2025 Fuel Number of vessels LNG-fueled 87 Methanol-fueled 40 LPG-fueled 17 Hydrogen-fueled 4 Ammonia-fueled 3 DNV Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil attorney general asks court to convict Bolsonaro
Brazil attorney general asks court to convict Bolsonaro
Sao Paulo, 15 July (Argus) — Brazilian prosecutors said the country's supreme court (STF) should find former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven other defendants guilty of an attempted coup. In a 517-page briefing that is part of attorney general Paulo Gonet's closing arguments at trial, prosecutors argue that Bolsonaro and the other defendants should be convicted of the crimes of armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d'état, damage qualified by violence and serious threat, and damage to government assets. Bolsonaro was the "main orchestrator and biggest beneficiary" of a plot to make sure that he stayed in power despite losing the election to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gonet said during the trial. The plot included the 8 January 2023 storming of government buildings in the capital Brasilia and plans to kill his political opponents . Also as part of the plot, Bolsonaro used the power of the state and operated in a "persistent scheme" to attack public institutions and the succession process after the presidential election results, Gonet said. The seven other defendants include Bolsonaro's running mate Walter Braga Netto; former minister Augusto Heleno, who is also an army general; Bolsonaro's former justice minister Anderson Torres; former defense minister Paulo Sergio Nogueira; and Bolsonaro's top aide Mauro Cid. If convicted, Cid is expected to have his sentence suspended due to a plea bargain agreement signed with the federal police during investigations. Cid will now have 15 days to present his final defense. The other defendants will then have an additional 15 days to do the same. A date for the justices to begin deliberations will be set after STF receives all statements. That is expected for September this year, according to the government. If convicted, the defendants, including Bolsonaro, can face up to 43 years in prison. Bolsonaro, Trump push back Bolsonaro — who is barred from running for any public office until 2030 — used social media to call the trial a "shameful farce". Bolsonaro's trial gained a new spotlight after US president Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50pc tariff on imports from Brazil from 1 August, citing an alleged "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. Lula said Brazil will reciprocate the US tariffs. "Any unilateral tariff increases will be addressed in accordance with Brazil's economic reciprocity law," he said on social media last week. He also added that the country "will not accept any form of tutelage." Lula signed the reciprocity law on Monday, according to the government. It authorizes Brazil to suspend trade, investment and obligation concessions to countries that impose unilateral barriers to Brazilian products in the global market. It also creates a committee — which will be comprised of the ministers of trade, finance, foreign relations and the chief of staff — that will be in charge of deciding trade responses to other countries' unilateral measures. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan’s Itochu to test NH3 bunkering in Singapore
Japan’s Itochu to test NH3 bunkering in Singapore
Tokyo, 15 July (Argus) — Japanese trading house Itochu plans to begin demonstrating ammonia bunkering in Singapore after October 2027, to enhance the competitiveness of Japan's shipbuilding industry and secure demand for ammonia as a marine fuel. Itochu signed agreements at the end of June with domestic shipbuilder Sasaki Shipbuilding to build a 5,000m³ ammonia bunkering ship and Japanese tank manufacturer Izumi Steel Works to build an ammonia tank for the vessel, the company said on 14 July. Itochu also signed a financing agreement at the end of June with domestic private bank Hiroshima Bank to partially finance the construction of the bunkering ship. But the trading house declined to disclose the funding amount. Itochu also received funding of up to ¥500mn ($3.4mn) from the Japanese trade and industry ministry Meti's scheme for promoting partnerships between Japanese companies and the global south. Itochu expects to receive the bunkering vessel by September 2027. Itochu's wholly owned subsidiary Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping will start trial bunkering at the port of Singapore, one of the largest demand centres for ship bunkering, after October 2027. The company expects to begin commercial ammonia bunkering in Singapore by 2028. Itochu aims to achieve safe ammonia bunkering operations through this demonstration and generate demand for ammonia as a marine fuel. Itochu will first commercialise ammonia bunkering in Singapore and then expand the business to Spain, the Suez Canal in Egypt and Japan. The trading house also aims to enhance the competitiveness of Japan's ammonia-bunkering shipbuilding and ammonia tank construction ahead of further demand growth for these technologies. Itochu initially aimed to begin trial ammonia bunkering in Singapore in 2026. But the company postponed its plan because it expects significant demand growth for ammonia as a marine fuel after 2028. Japan's marine industry has developed ammonia bunkering ships in line with the gradual development of ammonia-fuelled vessels. A domestic consortium received an approval in principle for its ammonia-fuelled ammonia bunkering ship from Japanese classification society Class NK in February. The industry is considering ammonia-fuelled ships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, secure ammonia demand and help upstream projects attain offtake contracts. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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