CF Industries Holdings Inc. said today that it has restarted operating units at its Woodward, Okla., nitrogen complex. As announced on Oct. 29, 2014, the company had shut down production at the complex to address an issue in one of the site’s boilers.

“We are pleased to have resumed production at Woodward and are in contact with our customers regarding the status of deliveries from the facility,” commented Phil Koch, CF senior vice president, manufacturing.

The Woodward complex has average annual production capacity for 480,000 st of gross ammonia, 820,000 st of UAN, and 25,000 st of urea liquor.

Yara International ASA said Dec. 1 that it has obtained relevant regulatory approvals to acquire a 60 percent stake in Galvani Indústria, Comércio e Serviços S/A (Galvani) allowing the integration process to start.

The Galvani operations comprise phosphate mining, single super phosphate (SSP) production and distribution of fertilizers in the center and northeast of Brazil. Galvani also owns licenses for two new greenfield phosphate mine projects in Brazil. In 2013, revenues amounted to US$352 million with an EBITDA of $48 million.

"We welcome the approvals from regulatory authorities which now allow us to close the acquisition and start the integration process. This acquisition complements Yara’s downstream presence in Brazil obtained with the acquisition of Bunge’s fertilizer division, and further strengthens Yara’s position in the world’s fastest growing agricultural region," said Torgeir Kvidal, Yara president and CEO.
 
The enterprise value is $318 million for 60 percent of Galvani. This comprises $132 million for the existing business and $186 million for the mining/production projects. Payment for the mining/production projects requires that certain project-related conditions are met. There will also be a post-closing adjustment of the working capital.

Galvani has a total SSP production capacity of approximately 1 million mt/y through the industrial complex of Paulinia and Luis Eduardo Magalhaes. Both sites source phosphate rock from two owned mines, Lagamar and Angico dos Dias, and the leased mine Irece. To cover future demand for phosphate rock, Galvani has two greenfield and one brownfield mining project under development, as follows:

Salitre (greenfield): up to ~1,200,000 mt phosphate rock per annum
Angico (brownfield): additional ~150,000 mt phosphate rock per annum
Santa Quiteria (greenfield): up to ~800,000 mt phosphate rock per annum

The projects under development also include new upgrading capacity for phosphate fertilizer. Start-up for the various projects is expected between 3 and 5 years from closing date.

Honeywell announced higher granular and mid-grade ammonium sulfate postings, effective Dec. 1. The new postings include granular at $310/st FOB Roseport, Minn., Dubuque, Iowa, Amherst Junction and Prairie du Chien, Wisc., and Illinois terminals at Danville and Granite City; and $315/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa. Honeywell’s mid-grade postings moved to $270/st FOB Roseport, Danville, and Byron, Ill.

Honeywell’s rail-delivered ammonium sulfate postings firmed on Dec. 1 to $320/st for granular and $280/st for mid-grade in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Those levels reflect a $10-$15/st increase from Honeywell’s Sept. 12 granular ammonium sulfate postings, depending on location, and a $5/st increase for mid-grade American Plant Food Corp. (APF) also announced new ammonium sulfate postings, effective Dec. 8, which reflect a $10/st increase from the company’s Oct. 1 list prices. APF granular postings in Texas will firm on Dec. 8 to $250/st FOB Freeport, $260/st FOB Galena Park, $275/st FOB Fort Worth, and $285/st FOB Littlefield. Granular ammonium sulfate FOB Mermentau, La., will also move up on Dec. 8 to $275/st.

APF’s coarse grade postings will firm on Dec. 8 to $240/st FOB Freeport, $250/st FOB Galena Park, $265/st FOB Fort Worth, and $275/st FOB Littlefield, while standard grade ammonium sulfate postings will move to $230/st FOB Freeport and $265/st FOB Littlefield. APF’s N-Pac Compacted posting will firm on Dec. 8 to $260/st FOB Galena Park.

The J. R. Simplot Co. has entered into a purchase agreement, subject to standard conditions to closing, to acquire a warehousing and storage facility in Chin, Alberta, Canada from Ben and Donna Walter Farms Ltd. This facility includes dry storage for plant nutrients, and will be part of the J. R. Simplot Co.’s  AgriBusiness Division distribution system.
          
“Investing in strategic opportunities that align with our core and long-term phosphate position is critical. The Chin facility is a first class operation that provides us the capacity to meet our initial objectives around growth in Western Canada,” said Garrett Lofto, president of Simplot’s AgriBusiness group.  
          
The Chin Warehouse is currently being used as a contract storage facility by Simplot. Simplot said it is very committed to customers in this area, and now has the opportunity to solidify a strong foundation for growth in the region. “We have a strong customer base in Western Canada, and this acquisition will allow us to better serve existing as well as new customers into the future,” said Mark Auchampach, vice president of Simplot’s Wholesale agriculture operations.
          
The transition with the proposed transaction will be fairly quick. Simplot intends to extend offers of employment to most of the existing employees, and the operations side will begin the changeover upon closing.

Interoceanic Corp. has announced an immediate price increase for premium granular ammonium sulfate manufactured by Rentech Nitrogen. Price increases will apply as follows to both prompt and Q2 prepay: $320 Midwest terminals and $330 tail delivered Midwest destinations.

Major players have concluded Tampa ammonia at $625/mt CFR for December, down $30/mt from November $655/mt CFR.