- The Kwinana SSP plant is placed into care and maintenance due to declining demand and rising costs.
- Sulfuric acid costs increased due to reduced supply from the Western Australian nickel industry.
- CSBP will import SSP and repurpose the facility for increased storage capacity.
Plant Status
CSBP Fertilisers has announced the Kwinana Superphosphate (SSP) Manufacturing Plant will be placed into care and maintenance. This decision is driven by a long-term decline in SSP market demand and increased competition from overseas suppliers.
Market Challenges
The decline in demand is attributed to reduced livestock numbers, particularly sheep, and rising operational and raw material costs, including sulfuric acid. The cost of sulfuric acid has increased due to production curtailments in the Western Australian nickel industry, which previously supplied it as a by-product.
Future Plans
CSBP plans to import SSP and repurpose the Kwinana facility to enhance storage capacity, ensuring greater supply reliability for solid fertiliser products. Fertilisers like Flexi-N will continue to be manufactured at Kwinana, Esperance, and Geraldton facilities.
Employee Support
CSBP will work closely with affected employees, offering redeployment opportunities, career advice, job search, and counselling support during the transition to care and maintenance.
