Augusta Sulfate Co. Stops AS Production in Georgia
Citing current market conditions, Augusta Sulfate Co. (ASC) has decided to stop producing ammonium sulfate at its plant in Augusta, Ga., according to an announcement from Fibrant LLC.
ASC reportedly made the decision in December. Stakeholders are pursuing strategic options to restart production, Fibrant said, but ASC will not have granular or mid-grade ammonium sulfate available until production resumes. The company will continue to sell standard, industrial, and spray grade ammonium sulfate products to its customers from inventory.
ASC had been operating the Augusta plant since May 2017 (GM May 26, 2017). The facility is located at the former Fibrant LLC caprolactam complex in Augusta, which shuttered operations in November 2016 (GM Nov. 4, 2016) due to low caprolactam prices. ASC was formed earlier in 2017 (GM March 24, 2017) when a group of investors announced that they had entered into an agreement to acquire the Augusta ammonium sulfate operation and restart it under the ASC name.
ASC reported in early 2017 that it would produce 240,000 mt/y of granular, standard, and industrial grade ammonium sulfate that was not caprolactam-based, with plans to ramp up to 310,000 mt/y with the addition of a compactor in late 2018. A workforce of approximately 50 was hired to operate the facility. ASC also serves as a sales agent for Fibrant, selling imported ammonium sulfate in the North American market from Fibrant’s European production facility.