Agrifos Fertilizer LLC and Shrieve Group said July 21 that they have made a multi-year agreement for Shrieve to market up to 400,000 short tons of sulfuric acid produced by Agrifos at its Pasadena plant. Agrifos will start supplying sulfuric acid to the North American market through Shrieve starting in 2011.
“This is a significant step in redefining the business model of Agrifos as we transition from strictly a phosphoric acid producer to a multi-product producer and terminal facility,” said Dave Gutacker, Agrifos CEO. “Agrifos is excited to team with a quality company like Shrieve, which has expert knowledge and contacts in the sulfuric acid market.”
In 2008, Agrifos agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to close its phosphogypsum stack (GM April 7, 2008) over a two-year period. As a result, Agrifos, which has the capacity to produce 400,000 st/y of phosphoric acid, is expected to wind down production of that product – along with super phos acid, DAP, and MAP – in the first or second quarter of 2011.
“This opportunity to extend Shrieve’s longstanding relationship with Agrifos significantly expands our position as a preferred multi-sourced sulfuric acid supplier,” said Jerry Jackson, Shrieve Chemical Co. president. “Shrieve is excited to be part of Agrifos’ long-term commitment to provide consistent and reliable sulfuric acid via production and terminaling.”
Sources last week were speculating about which fertilizer products might be terminaled at the Agrifos site, with some betting on urea.