Recent developments
Seeds and biologicals
BASF expanded its seed portfolio with three new Stoneville cotton varieties for the 2026 season, featuring Axant Flex and TwinLink Plus traits; registrations for Alite ISO and Engenia to use with Axant Flex are anticipated in 2026.
BASF Agricultural Solutions agreed to acquire AgBiTech, adding AgBiTech’s nucleopolyhedrovirus technology and manufacturing to its BioSolutions portfolio, with closing expected in H1 2026.
Nitrogen and ammonia
NEXTCHEM won two China contracts, providing a nitric acid license using Stamicarbon’s mono-pressure technology and revamping a urea unit; Yara outlined a low-cost, low-emission ammonia growth strategy, including a potential USD 2 billion US project with Air Products.
Uniper and AM Green signed a long-term offtake agreement for renewable ammonia up to 500,000 t/y, with first shipment from Kakinada targeted for 2028 and RFNBO certification for European users.
Contracts and supply
Grupa Azoty secured a multi-year agreement with Thoroe Nielsen A/S to supply NPK and NP fertilizers to Scandinavia from late 2025, supporting export stability and planning.
ORLEN began output from the Różańsko natural gas field, adding up to 130 mcm/y to domestic supply and supporting Strategy 2035 targets for upstream gas.
Biofuel feedstocks
Etlas, a 50:50 joint venture by Corteva and bp targets one million tonnes of oilseed feedstock annually by the mid‑2030s to supply sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, leveraging cover and fallow periods to avoid new land use.
Policy and capacity
The EU Critical Chemicals Alliance held its first assembly, addressing plant closures, trade distortions, investment needs, and criteria for essential molecules and sites to bolster European chemical resilience.
In Africa, Dangote Industries Limited and XCMG Construction Machinery formed a strategic cooperation covering petrochemicals, mining, agriculture, and green equipment development, with an emphasis on new energy and electric machinery to reduce emissions.