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Covid-19: adjusting to the new normal

Summary

We report on how the fertilizer industry and individual companies are working to mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Fertilizers declared an essential product As the Covid-19 pandemic has continued to spread globally, draconian control measures have been introduced to limit contagion. Some countries have forced non-essential businesses to close – resulting in the cessation of commercial and industrial activities that are not deemed strategic or vital to the economy. Keywords: Covid-19; Pandemic; Fertilizer; Industry; Lockdown; Producers; Manufacturers; Production; Planning; Contingency; Disruption; Mitigation; Operations; Supply; Plant; Shutdowns; Food security; Supply chain; Agriculture; Emergency; Help; Relief; Assistance; Cooperation; Collaboration; Information; IFA; International Fertilizer Association; Fertilizers Europe; TFI; The Fertiliser Institute; Industrieverband Agra; IVA; Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Fertilizantes; ANFFE; Assofertilizzanti; BELFertil; Meststoffen Nederland; IFDC; Yara; Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company; GPIC; OCP; Nutrien; Mosaic; Fauji Fertilizer Company; FFC; IFFCO; PT Pusri Palembang; Pupuk Kaltim

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Nitrogen projects and licensors

Summary

Following the publication of the 2020 nitrogen project listing by our sister magazine Nitrogen+Syngas, we profile a selection of leading nitrogen projects and their process licensors. Australia, Egypt, India, Nigeria and Russia have been key countries for new project developments.

Abstract

AUSTRALIA Contracts agreed for Karratha project Haldor Topsoe entered into a technology licensing and engineering contract with Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers at the end of last year for a new ammonia-urea plant in Karratha, Western Australia. Keywords: Nitrogen; Project; Report; Listing; Licensors; Urea; Ammonia; Investment; Engineering; Procurement; Construction; EPC; Plants; Saipem; Stamicarbon; Maire Tecnimont; NIIK; KBR; TEC; Toyo; Haldor Topsoe; Australia; Egypt; India; Nigeria; Russia

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Sulphur: the fourth crop nutrient

Summary

Sulphur is becoming an increasingly important crop nutrient – due to a combination of lower sulphur emissions, the increasing prevalence of high-analysis fertilizers and higher cropping intensity.

Abstract

Sulphur is present in all crops and plays an important metabolic role. It is essential for the formation of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and enzymes, and vital for photosynthesis, energy metabolism and carbohydrate production. Sulphur also contributes to the flavour and aroma of crops such as onions and can therefore influence the quality of farm produce. Keywords: Sulphur; Fertilizers; Elemental sulphur; ES; Sulphate fertilizers; Sulphur-enhanced fertilizers; Urea; Coated; SCU; Bentonite; Ammonium sulphate; Sulphate of potash; SOP; Sulphate of potash magnesia; SOPM; Single superphosphate; SSP; Ammonium phosphate sulphate; NP+S; NPS; Thiosulphates; MicroEssentials; Thio-Sul; CaTs; KTS; MagThio; Water dispersible granules; WSG; Urea-ES; Special-S; IPCO; PhosAgro; EuroChem; Stamicarbon; Tessenderlo Kerley International; Tiger-Sul; HJ Baker; Sulphur Mills; SML; Omex; Mosaic; OCP; Shell; Thiogro; NIIK; Thyssenkrupp; Uhde Fertilizer Technologies; UFT; Crops; Onion; Brassica; Rapeseed; Oilseed rape; Canola; Pasture; Sugarcane; Coffee; Cotton

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Micronutrients make major impacts

Summary

The widespread problem of soil micronutrient deficiency has come under the spotlight in recent years. We look at the range of specialist fertilizer products able to tackle micronutrient deficits in crops and soils.

Abstract

Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and a necessary part of balanced crop nutrition. They include boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. Although required in much smaller amounts, micronutrient availability is arguably as important to plant nutrition as primary and secondary macronutrients. Keywords: Market report; Speciality; Products; Specialty; Fertilizers; Micronutrients; Fertigation; Foliar; Chelated; Deficiency; Deficiencies; Copper; Iron; Manganese; Molybdenum; Boron; Zinc; Brazil; East Asia; China; Europe; Latin America; AkzoNobel; Borax; Eti Maden; Cameron Chemicals; Advanced Micronutrient Products; Ultra Yield Micronutrients; Mosaic; Rexolin; Rexene; MicroEssentials; Aspire; Nachurs; Alpine; Compass Minerals; WolfTrax; ProAcqua; Rocket Seeds; Granubor; Solubor; Fertibor

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Innovation showcase

Summary

We profile a selection of innovative speciality products and agronomic technologies that have recently been brought to market.

Abstract

Perstorp launches chloride-free liquid potassium fertilizer Sweden’s Perstorp entered the fertilizer market in May with the launch of Amicult™ K42. Keywords: Products; Technology; Fertilizer; New; Innovation; Innovative; Technology; Technologies; Perstorp; Amicult; K42; ICL; Polysulphate; Polyhalite; PKpluS; PotashplusS; Koch; KAS; Centuro; Compass Minerals; Marrone Bio; Innovar Ag; InnoSolve; Yara; Yararix; N-Tester; Nutrien; Xarvio; App; Digital farming; Precision agriculture; Agrible; DNA; Tagging; Barcodes; Traceability; Supply chain; Safety; Security; Tracking; Tracing; Ammonium nitrate; D-ART 3000; SafeTraces; SafeTracers

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Covid-19 and phosphates: from fear to optimism

Summary

The phosphates market to date has remained remarkably resilient during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite early fears, 2020 has seen strong overall demand so far and no major supply-side disruptions. But concerns still lie ahead, as Alberto Persona, principal phosphate analyst at Fertecon/IHS Markit, explains.

Abstract

That time when we first began to hear the Chinese city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, regularly mentioned on the news seems so long ago now – almost a different era. As lockdown measures began to be imposed in China, the spreading Covid-19 contagion received more and more worldwide media coverage. Keywords: IHS; Fertecon; Covid-19; Pandemic; Lockdown; Phosphates; Fertilizer; Market; Production; Trade; Exports; Imports; Supply; Logistics; Transport; Prices; Pricing; Distribution; Disruption; Shutdowns; Diammonium phosphate; DAP; Monoammonium phosphate; MAP; NP; NPK; China; Hubei; Tunisia; GCT; Jordan; JPMC; Peru; Miski Mayo; India; Brazil; United States

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The water-soluble phosphate market

Summary

Demand from horticulture has seen the use of water-soluble phosphates rise globally to almost one million tonnes annually. We assess the market and its growth prospects, identify leading producers and highlight recent product innovations.

Abstract

Water-soluble fertilizers (WSFs) are a niche group of speciality products that nevertheless occupy a strongly-growing segment of the global fertilizer market. The world market for WSFs – valued at $14-15 billion according to some estimates – generates around $3.6 billion in wholesale revenues annually1. Keywords: Market report; Supply; Production; Consumption; Demand; Growth; Drip irrigation; Micro-irrigation; Fertigation; Producers; Horticulture; Hydroponics; Water-soluble; Phosphate; Phosphates; Fertilizers; WSFs; Products; Monoammonium phosphate; MAP; Monopotassium phosphate; MKP; Phosphoric acid; Diammonium phosphate; DAP; Urea phosphate; UP; Polyphosphates; Europe; EU; Africa; North America; Latin America; Brazil; Mexico; India; China; ICL; Haifa; Uralchem; GMZ; EuroChem; Innophos; Kingenta; Prayon; Yara; SQM; Vitas; Manaseer; Monband; Hortipray; Anticalc; Pbooster; micronutriFe; Nova PeaK; PeKacid; Krista; Ultrasol; Magnum

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Digitalisation: supporting customers remotely

Summary

As the industrial value chain for fertilizers and their raw materials manages its way through the unprecedented global Covid-19 pandemic, Metso Outotec's Hannes Storch, Collin Bartlett & Marcus Runkel reflect on the range of digital tools installed by the company at its industrial reference plants globally.

Abstract

As we exit from this challenging period, all of us in business need to consider how current ways of collaborating – between ourselves and with our customers – may well need to change, if we are to be better prepared for the future. Keywords: Digital; Technology; Production; Plant; Process; Simulation; Automation; Sulphur; Sulphuric acid; Metso; Outotec; Digitalisation; Industry 4.0; Internet of things; IoT; Industrial internet of things; IIoT; Cloud computing; Smart factories; Distributed control systems; DCS; Engineering; Procurement; Construction; EPC; Contractor; PORS; Pretium; Perficiency; RoasterOptimizer

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Weir Minerals: the engineering experts

Summary

Weir Minerals has the global engineering expertise to tackle the world's harshest and most extreme mine and quarry environments. These range from Canada's frozen north to tropical Indonesia and the remote deserts of Chile, Mongolia and Australia. This expertise extends to Florida's phosphate mining district, where a dedicated multi-disciplinary team is delivering an integrated approach to some tough mining challenges.

Abstract

Engineering expertise has always been the driving force behind the success of Weir Minerals, ever since brothers James and George Weir invented the Weir boiler feed pump in 1871, founding what would later become the Weir Group. Keywords: Mining; Engineering; Dewatering; Milling; Comminution; Crushing; Pumps; Pumping; Screens; Screening; Beneficiation; Processing; Management; Minerals; Equipment; Materials; Process; Energy; Water; Waste; Reduction; Cost; Optimisation; Troubleshooting; Optimization; Phosphate; Florida; Multidisciplinary; Teams; Maintenance; Customers; After sales; Support; Integrated solutions

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Potash players adapt to the Covid crisis

Summary

The fertilizer industry's 'essential' status is no barrier to bearish pricing, according to Andy Hemphill, senior markets editor for potash at ICIS Fertilizers.

Abstract

The global fertilizer industry has endured the hardships and uncertainty thrown up by an unprecedented global pandemic better than most. Yet there is no denying that potash market players have felt the disruptive influence of Covid-19. Keywords: Covid-19; Pandemic; Lockdown; Potash; MOP; Muriate of potash; Fertilizer; Market; Disruption; Production; Trade; Exports; Imports; Supply; Distribution; Logistics; Transport; Trucks; Prices; Pricing; Belarus; BPC; Belaruskali; Russia; Uralkali; Canada; Israel; Jordan; Germany; China; Canpotex; Southeast Asia; Palm oil; Futures; CPO; Brazil

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Water-solubles: rising star of the speciality market

Summary

As the rising star in the fast-growing speciality plant nutrients market, smart fertilizer producers are expanding their water-soluble product portfolios. Sana Boulabiar and Matias Navarro, Veolia Water Technologies North America, explain the attraction.

Abstract

Speciality products for speciality crops Two agricultural sector trends link together the popularity of speciality fertilizers with speciality crops. Firstly, growing interest in healthy eating and rising disposable incomes are driving up the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, leading to an expansion in horticulture devoted to speciality crops. Keywords: Water-soluble, Fertilizers, Phosphates, Veolia, Production, Technology, Crystallisation, Crystallisation, Water efficiency, Drip irrigation, Micro-irrigation, Fertigation, Horticulture, Hydroponics, Fruit Vegetables, Speciality, Specialty, Crops, Products, WSFs, NPK, NP, NK, Monoammonium phosphate, MAP, SOP, Sulphate of potash, Phosphoric acid, Merchant grade, MGA, Brines, Polyhalite, Schoenite, Glaserite

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