NeuAG LLC, The Woodlands, Texas, reports that it has completed a debt financing agreement with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management LP to assist in funding the construction of a $90 million ammonium sulfate storage and distribution facility in Freeport, Texas. Previously announced in May 2020, NeuAG will become BASF Corp.’s new exclusive partner to distribute and market ammonium sulfate, which comes from BASF’s caprolactam production. Construction of the new facility, which will be adjacent to the existing BASF complex in Freeport, began in September 2020.

Tampa molten sulfur contracts have settled at $69/lt CFR for the fourth quarter, an increase of $11.50/lt from $57.50/lt CFR in Q3.

Sources reported a sale of 15,000 mt of granular urea by Egyptian producer Abu Qir at $260/mt FOB for late October loading. The price represents a move up after a week of bouncing around in the $250s/mt FOB.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and CF Industries Holdings Inc. President and CEO Tony Will announced Sept. 30 that CF will make a $41.4 million capital investment to enhance nitric acid production at its Donaldsonville, La., complex. The move is expected to create more than 30 jobs.

MOPCO closed a deal for 40,000 mt of granular urea in the upper $250s/mt FOB. The deal reflects a slight rebound in prices after Abu Qir settled a sale in the low $250s/mt FOB at the start of the week.

The much-anticipated RCF tender will close Oct. 9 with a ship-by date of Nov. 15. The call comes as urea prices showed a softening. In the run-up to the tender, industry sources said RCF will need to buy about 1 million mt to stay on track to finish the year with enough product.

Tampa anhydrous ammonia for October has moved up $16/mt to $228/mt CFR from September’s $212/mt CFR. Sources had been predicting higher prices based on stronger international prices and production curtailments.

Egyptian producer Abu Qir settled a 35,000 mt granular deal at $252/mt FOB and an equal amount of prills for $242/mt FOB. This price comes on the heels of Helwan closing a deal in the upper $250s/mt FOB last week and against a month-opening price of $280/mt FOB.

An explosion in a gas tower on Sept. 18 at a fertilizer plant in North Korea’s South Pyongan Province is reported to have killed eight people and injured another 12, according to a Sept. 25 report by Daily NK, an online newspaper focusing on issues relating to North Korea.