Australian explosives producer Dyno Nobel has sold its 769,000 t/yr Phosphate Hill plant to Australian energy and resources firm Mayfair for A$1 (0.69¢), with support from federal and state government loans, the company said on 1 July.
Phosphate Hill is Australia's only MAP/DAP production plant and has recently faced issues with sulphuric acid supply, as well as rail disruptions on the Mount Isa line, which transports product to the Port of Townsville. The sale agreement was signed on 30 June.
Dyno Nobel likely sold Phosphate Hill for a nominal A$1 as part of its plan to divest from the fertilizer sector, with the plant facing ongoing operational and cost pressures.
The Australian federal and Queensland state governments have provided a A$160mn loan to support operations at Phosphate Hill, the Ministry for Industry and Innovation said. The loan will help Mayfair to upgrade the facility and includes assistance to manage higher sulphur costs following the US-Iran war.
Australia imports 99pc of its sulphur from Canada, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Argus-assessed sulphur at $1,150/t fob Vancouver on 25 June, up by 136pc from 26 February.
Production at Phosphate Hill fell by 9pc on the year to 272,800t in the financial half year to 31 March 2026. MAP/DAP exports from the Port of Townsville were flat on the year at 116,700t in the same period, trade data from ABS show. Exports in January-April dropped by nearly 100pc on the year to 43t.
Australian agribusiness Ridley held a supply agreement for all MAP/DAP output from Phosphate Hill through Incitec Pivot Fertilizers before the sale and plans to renegotiate this deal with Mayfair. Ridley did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Argus last assessed MAP/DAP at $883-933/t fob Townsville on 25 June.
Dyno Nobel reported net emissions of 446,062t CO2 equivalent to scope 1 emissions from Phosphate Hill in the financial year ending 30 June 2025, after surrendering 26,089 Safeguard Mechanism Credits.
