Nutrien Ltd., Saskatoon, said Sept. 22 that it will indefinitely curtail one of its four ammonia plants in Trinidad in response to weak market conditions. The change will result in a 15 percent workforce reduction, effective Oct. 30, 2020.

Two of the ammonia plants and the associated urea facility will continue to operate at maximum capacity. Nutrien said the site will continue to operate its remaining ammonia and urea assets to meet customer’s needs. It expects these changes will enable the facility to operate more efficiently, competitively and sustainably into the future and is committed to satisfy all existing supplier contractual agreements.

Yara International ASA, Oslo, has announced organizational changes, effective Oct. 1. Lair Hanzen, currently EVP Yara Americas, is appointed Special Advisor to the President & CEO, reporting to Svein Tore Holsether and relocating to Oslo. Hanzen will support Yara’s ongoing activities within green ammonia and will in this capacity report to EVP Farming Solutions Terje Knutsen.

Chrystel Monthean, currently EVP Yara Africa & Asia, is appointed EVP Yara Americas. Monthean was previously SVP Latin America.

Fernanda Lopes Larsen, currently SVP Indirect Procurement, is appointed EVP Yara Africa & Asia. Lopes Larsen has prior experience from senior positions in Yara, as well as several positions in consumer goods and pharmaceutical companies.

India and Morocco settled the fourth quarter phos acid price at $689/mt CFR. This represents a $64/mt jump from the third quarter price.

The BCIC urea tender for two lots of 150,000 mt each closed with offers at $310.60/mt CFR bagged liner out from CNAMPGC of Singapore to Mongla and $310.60/mt CFR bagged liner out from Desh to Chittagong. The bulk of the offers came with Chinese material for an estimated netback to China of $265/mt FOB, which confirm pricing levels in China from previous business. See the Sept.18, 2020 issue of Green Markets for more details and analysis.

The Mosaic Co., Tampa, on Sept. 14 announced key upcoming organizational changes. Rick McLellan, current Senior Vice President-Commercial, has announced his intent to retire in 2021. As part of the transition, effective Oct. 15, 2020, Floris Bielders, currently Vice President-Commercial, Mosaic Fertilizantes, has been named Vice President-Commercial, North America Business-overseeing customer-facing activities for the North America Business. He will report to Bruce Bodine, Senior Vice President-North America Business. Jenny Wang has been named Vice President-Global Strategic Marketing, overseeing all facets of marketing. She will continue to have responsibility for the distribution businesses in China and India, and will report to Joc O’Rourke, President and CEO.

Agri-AFC, GreenPoint AG, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s wholesale agronomy business announce the formation of a joint venture combining their agronomy operations. The combination will include all operations of Agri-AFC LLC’s wholesale and retail business, GreenPoint AG’s retail business and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative’s wholesale agronomy business. The new venture will do business under the name GreenPoint AG. It will be based in Decatur, Ala., with regional offices in Memphis and LaVergne, Tenn.

Jeff Blair has been selected to lead the new entity as CEO. He comes to Greenpoint AG most recently from The Andersons, where he was President of the Plant Nutrient Group. Previous to that role, he held leadership roles at Intrepid Potash, Orica Mining Services and was a Captain in the U.S. Army.  

Pakistan buyers paid about $360/mt CFR for 75,000 mt of DAP from China. The netback of the deals is put at $342/mt FOB. This represents about a $10/mt jump in price from the last spot business from China. More purchases by Pakistan companies are expected. In addition, India still needs DAP for its application season.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reported on Sept. 2 in the Federal Register that at the request of the petitioner—The Mosaic Co., Tampa, the agency’s preliminary decision in Mosaic’s countervailing duty petition against phosphate imports from Morocco and Russia has been postponed from Sept. 21, 2020 to Nov. 23, 2020. Mosaic made the request, saying the postponement was needed so DOC would have more time to analyze fully questionnaire responses, issue supplemental questionnaires as appropriate, and prepare an accurate preliminary determination.

MMTC has increased the tonnage it will take from its Aug. 26 urea tender. Twelve companies will now supply 1.8 million mt. The buying house had quickly settled on 1.7 million mt within days of the tender closing. The past week allowed for more discussions to fine-tune the awards.

Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corp. called a tender for two lots of 150,000 mt of granular urea in bags for a total of 300,000 mt. The tender closes Sept. 15. Sources said with much of the Chinese urea tied up with the Indian tender, BCIC might have to look further afield than usual.