Customer Logins

Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice.

Customer Logins

My Logins

All Customer Logins
S&P Global Commodity Insights
  • S&P Global
  • S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • S&P Global Engineering Solutions
  • S&P Global Market Intelligence
  • S&P Global Mobility
  • S&P Global Commodity Insights
  • S&P Global Ratings
  • S&P Global Sustainable1
Close
Discover more about S&P Global’s offerings.
Investor Relations
  • Investor Relations Overview
  • Presentations
  • Investor Fact Book
  • News Releases
  • Quarterly Earnings
  • SEC Filings & Reports
  • Executive Committee
  • Merger Information
  • Governance
  • Stock & Dividends
  • Shareholder Services
  • Contact
English
  • Español
  • 中文网站
  • Português
  • 한국어
  • हिंदी
  • English (Australia)
  • 日本語
Support
  • Get Support
  • System Notifications
  • Delivery Platforms
  • Regulatory Engagement
Login
  • Commodity Insights Login
  • Access IHS Markit Products
Register
  • Commodities
  • Products & Services
  • Methodology
  • Market Insights
  • Energy Transition
  • Events
  • S&P Global
  • S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • S&P Global Engineering Solutions
  • S&P Global Market Intelligence
  • S&P Global Mobility
  • S&P Global Commodity Insights
  • S&P Global Ratings
  • S&P Global Sustainable1
  • Oil Upstream LNG Natural Gas Electric Power Coal Shipping Petrochemicals Metals Agriculture
    Latest in Commodities
    Listen: The future of naphtha and diesel flows after EU sanctions

    What will replace Russian diesel and naphtha flows to Europe after EU sanctions take effect on 5...

    UK's January road fuel sales recover to highest for month since 2020

    The UK's road fuel sales recovered from seasonal lows in January to hit their highest average for...

    China to cut clean oil product exports in Feb amid strong domestic demand

    China's refineries will cut clean oil product exports in February as domestic demand in January was...

  • Oil LNG Natural Gas Electric Power Coal Shipping Petrochemicals Metals Agriculture Energy Transition
    I Need
    Market Insights and Analytics Commodity Prices and Essential Market Data Real-Time News, Prices and Analysis Maps and Geospatial Data Forward Curves and Risk Valuation Data
    Data and Partner Delivery
  • Our Methodology Methodology & Specifications Price Assessments Subscriber Notes Price Symbols Symbol Search & Directories Corrections Complaints
    References
    Market On Close Index Sourced Data (Survey) Methodology Review & Change MOC Participation Guidelines Holiday SEE ALL REFERENCE TOOLS
  • Latest News Headlines All Topics Videos Podcasts Special Reports Infographics Insights Magazine Insight Blog    Research & Analysis Top 250 Rankings   
    Latest in Market Insights
  • PLATTS ANALYTICS PRODUCT PLATFORM
    ACCESS ANALYTICS HUB
  • All Events Webinars Conferences Methodology Education Training and eLearning Forums Global Energy Awards    Global Metals Awards   
    Featured Events
    Forums London Energy Forum
    • 27 Feb 2023
    • London
    Forums CERAWeek
    • 27 Feb 2023
    • London
    Conferences ,Forums FUJCON 2023
    • 13 Mar 2023
    • Fujairah, UAE

Ammonia

Chemical Economics Handbook

Published July 2020

Ammonia is the basic building block of the world nitrogen industry; consumption of ammonia for nitrogen fertilizers account for more than 80% of the world ammonia market. Nitrogen fertilizers are the most widely used fertilizers in the world, accounting for close to 60% of all fertilizers. With the exception of China, where much of the ammonia is produced from coal gasification, most of the world’s ammonia is produced from natural gas.

The following pie chart shows world consumption of ammonia:

Ammonia is processed into downstream fertilizer products before being applied to the soil. These products include urea, ammonium nitrates, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphates, and nitrogen solutions. Consumption of ammonia in industrial applications is projected to grow slightly faster than fertilizer use during the forecast period. Ammonia is used to produce ammonium nitrates that are used to make explosives (covered in the CEH Explosives and Blasting Agents report). It is also used in the production of acrylonitrile for acrylic fibers and plastics, hexamethylenediamine for nylon 66, caprolactam for nylon 6, isocyanates for polyurethanes and hydrazine, and various amines and nitriles.

The global ammonia market had been steady in the recent past until the start of the COVID-19 crisis. There were minimal constraints associated with feedstock natural gas availability in key producing regions. Mainland China experienced a sharp increase in coal prices and faced steeper competition in its urea export market resulting in a drastic decline in ammonia production from 2016 to 2018. However, production increased in 2019 in the Middle East and the United States, with only a minor loss in total global production.

The world has been experiencing weaker nutrient demand in recent years because of poor economic prospects, lower crop and food prices, increasing competition, and fluctuating energy prices. A reduction in fertilizer prices has had a significant impact on fertilizer producers’ earning potential. Although there have been capacity curtailments, consolidation announcements, and cost-cutting measures, fertilizer production and import levels have remained healthy. Because of COVID-19, the demand for ammonia fell drastically in 2020. It was caused by a decrease in the demand for industrial consumers while the agricultural sector experienced a smaller decline, mostly because of logistics and financial issues.

The shares of feedstocks such as naphtha and fuel oil are declining; natural gas is the preferred raw material for newer ammonia plants. During the forecast period, the share of natural gas is expected to increase. However, ammonia plants are expensive; investment costs can exceed $1 billion and plants can take up to three years to build.

During 2020–25, world apparent consumption of ammonia is forecast to increase by about 12.9%. The global ammonia supply/demand balance is expected to move toward a surplus, as future capacity additions will continue to outpace consumption. Ammonia capacity is increasing primarily in areas where the availability and cost of natural gas are lower, in particular, the United States and the Middle East.

For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.

S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook –Ammonia is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including

Key benefits

S&P Global’s Chemical Economics Handbook –Ammonia has been compiled using primary interviews with key suppliers and organizations, and leading representatives from the industry in combination with S&P Global’s unparalleled access to upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights into industry dynamics, trade, and economics.

This report can help you:

  • Identify trends and driving forces influencing chemical markets
  • Forecast and plan for future demand
  • Understand the impact of competing materials
  • Identify and evaluate potential customers and competitors
  • Evaluate producers
  • Track changing prices and trade movements
  • Analyze the impact of feedstocks, regulations, and other factors on chemical profitability

Go to Customer Login

Email

Buy individual report now

Contact:
customercare@ihsmarkit.com

Find the chemical expertise you need

Contact a chemical expert or request a demo today.
Get started

View Report

Contents

Executive summary 7
Summary 9
World supply and demand 11
Capacity 12
Production 14
Consumption 15
Price 18
Trade 20
Introduction 22
Manufacturing processes 24
Synthesis gas production 24
Steam reforming 24
Partial oxidation 24
Cryogenic separation 25
Coal gasification 25
Electrolysis 25
Synthesis gas purification 25
Shift conversion 25
Removal of carbon dioxide 26
Removal of residual carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide 26
Ammonia synthesis 26
Trends in synthetic ammonia plant development 26
Ammonia plant retrofits 27
Trends in costs 27
Recovered ammonia 28
Coking by-product 28
Petroleum refinery wastewater 29
Green ammonia 29
Other developments 29
Ammonia as an energy carrier 30
Environmental issues 31
Supply and demand by region 32
United States 32
Producing companies 32
Salient statistics 37
Consumption 38
Direct application as fertilizer 41
Downstream products 42
Chemical uses 42
Caprolactam 42
Acrylonitrile 42
Hydrogen cyanide 42
Miscellaneous amines and nitriles 42
Other 43
Industrial-grade ammonia 43
Distribution 43
Price 44
Trade 46
Canada 48
Producing companies 48
Salient statistics 49
Consumption 49
Price 50
Trade 51
Mexico 51
Producing companies 51
Salient statistics 52
Consumption 53
Central and South America 54
Producing companies 54
Salient statistics 58
Production 59
Consumption 59
Trade 61
Western Europe 62
Producing companies 62
Capacity 64
Salient statistics 65
Production 66
Consumption 67
Trade 69
Central Europe 71
Producing companies 71
Capacity 73
Salient statistics 74
Production 75
Consumption 76
Trade 78
Eastern Europe 79
Producing companies 79
Capacity 83
Salient statistics 84
Production 84
Consumption 85
Trade 86
Middle East 87
Producing companies 87
Capacity 90
Salient statistics 91
Production 92
Consumption 93
Trade 95
Africa 96
Producing companies 96
Capacity 99
Salient statistics 100
Production 100
Consumption 101
Trade 103
Southwest Asia 104
Producing companies 104
Salient statistics 108
Production 109
Consumption 109
Trade 111
China 111
Producing companies 111
Salient statistics 120
Consumption 121
Urea 122
Nitric acid 122
Ammonium nitrate 123
Ammonium phosphates 123
Ammonium sulfate 123
Ammonium chloride 123
Ammonium bicarbonate 123
Acrylonitrile 124
Caprolactam 124
Alkylamines 124
Other 124
Price 124
Trade 124
Japan 125
Producing companies 125
Salient statistics 126
Consumption 127
Trade 128
Other Northeast Asia 129
Producing companies 129
Salient statistics 129
Consumption 130
Trade 131
Southeast Asia 132
Producing companies 132
Salient statistics 134
Production 135
Consumption 135
Trade 137
Oceania 138
Producing companies 138
Salient statistics 138
Production 139
Consumption 140
Trade 141
Additional resources 142
Revisions 143

Products & Solutions from related industries

Chemical Image

Cyclohexane China Report

Chemical Image

Acetaldehyde - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acetic Anhydride - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acetic Acid - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acetone - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acetonitrile - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acetylene - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylamide - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylic Acid, Acrylate Esters and Polymers - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylic and Modacrylic Fibers - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylic Surface Coatings - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Resins -Chemical Economics Handbook-CEHl Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Acrylonitrile - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Adipic Acid - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Activated Carbon - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Air Separation Gases - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Alkyd/Polyester Surface Coatings - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

Chemical Image

Alkyl Acetates - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH)

{"items" : [ {"name":"chat","enabled":true,"desc":"Chat Now","mobdesc":"Chat","mobmsg":"Welcome! How can we help you today?"}, {"name":"share","enabled":true,"desc":"<strong>Share</strong>","mobdesc":"Share","options":[ {"name":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3a%2f%2fwww.spglobal.com%2fcommodityinsights%2fen%2fci%2fproducts%2fammonia-chemical-economics-handbook.html","enabled":true},{"name":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.spglobal.com%2fcommodityinsights%2fen%2fci%2fproducts%2fammonia-chemical-economics-handbook.html&text=Ammonia+-+Chemical+Economics+Handbook+(CEH)+%7c+S%26P+Global","enabled":true},{"name":"linkedin","url":"https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.spglobal.com%2fcommodityinsights%2fen%2fci%2fproducts%2fammonia-chemical-economics-handbook.html","enabled":true},{"name":"email","url":"?subject=Ammonia - Chemical Economics Handbook (CEH) | S&P Global&body=http%3a%2f%2fwww.spglobal.com%2fcommodityinsights%2fen%2fci%2fproducts%2fammonia-chemical-economics-handbook.html","enabled":true},{"name":"whatsapp","url":"https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=Ammonia+-+Chemical+Economics+Handbook+(CEH)+%7c+S%26P+Global http%3a%2f%2fwww.spglobal.com%2fcommodityinsights%2fen%2fci%2fproducts%2fammonia-chemical-economics-handbook.html","enabled":true}]}, {"name":"rtt","enabled":true,"mobdesc":"Top"} ]}
Filter Sort
  • About S&P Global Commodity Insights
  • Media Center
  • Advertisers
  • Locations
  • Get Support
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Corporate Responsibility
  • History
  • Investor Relations
  • Leadership
  • Glossary
  • © 2023 by S&P Global Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Privacy Policy & Cookie Notice
  • Site Map