Several producers last week gave updates on their plants, with much of that news about idled plants returning to production. The Mosaic Co. confirmed that it brought its Faustina, La., ammonia plant back up Feb. 10.
Terra Industries Inc. reported that it was in the process of bringing up its Woodward, Okla., nitrogen plant, which went down late last year. Terra is also breaking ground this month on its 500,000 st/y UAN expansion at Woodward. The startup for that is expected in 2010.
Terra said its Yazoo City, Miss., ammonia plant, is currently undergoing a turnaround. Other turnarounds expected in 2009, include one-half of Verdigris, Okla., and the Courtright, Ont., urea plant.
Terra’s Donaldsonville ammonia plant remains down.
More of Agrium Inc.’s nitrogen plants are running. One unit at Sacremento is offline. The Borger, Texas, plant resumed production this week. There is some restriction on feed stock supply at the Joffre plant in Alberta. The Redwater #1 ammonia plant remains down. On phosphate, Redwater is running flat out. Conda is running around 80 percent, with expectations it will go to full rates within a week or two.
Agrium’s Argentine Profertil facility is back at full rates after a recent turnaround.
Agrium’s potash production has been at 50 percent for 60 days.
CF Industries Holdings Inc. said that although its Plant City, Fla., phosphate complex operated at 85 percent capacity in the fourth quarter, it entered 2009 at approximately 40 percent of capacity.