Centilion, a fertilizer production company based in Henry, Ill., and Wilson Industrial Sales, and industrial chemicals and fertilizer marketer and distributor based in Rensselaer, Ind., on June 30 announced they have entered into an exclusive offtake agreement. Under the agreement, Wilson will have exclusive rights to market and distribute all production from the Centilion plant to national and international customers, after a short transition period during which rights will be shared with the previous offtake customer.

“Centilion’s Henry plant and Wilson have been affiliated for more than 30 years, and it feels good to turn our partnership into a formal long-term business arrangement,” said Centilion President and COO Kobus van der Zel. “The Wilson team has been part of our family for a long time and they have demonstrated their deep knowledge of the ammonium sulfate market.” Centilion produces a variety of granulated fertilizer products directly from raw materials, including 75 percent sulfuric acid.

Nutrien Ltd., Saskatoon, said June 29 that it is restarting the Vanscoy mine in Saskatchewan following repairs to its load out facility caused by a fire that occurred over three months ago. During the repairs to Vanscoy, Nutrien shifted significant production to other mines to maintain 2020 targeted production levels showcasing the strength of Nutrien’s mine network and flexibility.

As it restarts Vanscoy, Nutrien says it does so at reduced rates to maintain existing production plans and commitments to customers. Vanscoy is expected to operate at an annual run rate of 700-800,000 mt in 2020 which is not an indication of future utilization rates.

Martin Midstream Partners, its general partner and subsidiaries have entered into a restructuring support agreement with holders who beneficially own over 62 percent of the company’s 7.25 percent notes due 2021. The pact contemplates that the company will start an out of court exchange offer to exchange existing notes for cash, 11.5 percent senior secured second lien notes due 2025 and rights to acquire 10 percent senior secured 1.5 lien notes due 2024.

If conditions of the exchange offer are not satisfied, company intends to file petitions under Chapter 11 and pursue an in-court restructuring. The company expects to continue business operations and does not anticipate interruptions during restructuring regardless of Chapter 11 process.

The Mosaic Co., Tampa, said June 26 that it is filing petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission that request the initiation of countervailing duty investigations into imports of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and
Russia. It said the purpose of the petitions is to remedy the distortions that foreign subsidies are causing in the U.S. market for phosphate fertilizers, and thereby restore fair competition.

Sources reported RCF issued a counter bid in its urea tender based on the Samsung prices of $237.35/mt CFR for the East Coast and $238.45/mt CFR for the West Coast.

Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited released the offered prices in the urea tender that closed June 19. Samsung came in with the lowest prices for the East and West Coasts at $237.35/mt CFR and $238.45/mt CFR, respectively. Sources said Samsung price is well off the average of $244/mt CFR. One option floated is for RCF to declare all offers valid and traders must supply their offered tons. Another is to accept the price of another trader and set that as the price for all purchases except the Samsung tons.

The Samsung prices equate to a netback into China around $225/mt FOB and to the Arab Gulf at $227/mt FOB. These prices represent a drop for Chinese producers and an increase for their Arab counterparts.

Nutrien Ltd., Saskatoon, has confirmed that it has taken an ammonia plant down at its Trinidad facility due to mechanical issues and expects it to be down for approximately 14 days. It went down over the weekend of June 13-14. Once the mechanical issue has been resolved, the company said market conditions will determine when to restart the plant.

India’s RCF tender closed Friday, June 19 with 12 companies offering about 2.2 million mt of firm offers plus 50,000 mt in an optional offer. Only the technical envelopes were released early Friday, providing the names of the offering companies, the tonnage offered, and discharge ports. Sources said the prices will most likely be released Monday.

Nutrien Ltd., which is offering potash fill at $240/st FOB at Midwest river warehouses, is offering product at Midwest terminals at $245-$250/st FOB and NOLA barge at $210/st FOB. Orders are due by close of business June 24. Delivery is by Sept 30. Orders received thereafter will be priced up $15/st.

The Mosaic Co. is also out with a fill program. Midwest river warehouse pricing is indicated at $240/st, and inland warehouses at $245/st. Rail delivered pricing is +$5 above inland warehouses. These price levels are good on orders entered by close of business June 24, with a $15/st increase thereafter.

Cargill Inc., Minneapolis, has broken ground on a new $30 million fertilizer retail/distribution facility next to its Camrose, Alta., canola crush plant. Storage capacity is put at 35,000 mt. Completion is expected in August 2021.