Recent developments
Capacity expansion
Brazil advanced domestic nitrogen capacity as Petrobras approved resumption of the UFN III nitrogen fertilizers unit in Três Lagoas (3,600 t/d urea; 2,200 t/d ammonia), targeting operations in 2029. In China, BASF inaugurated the Zhanjiang Verbund site, including a 1.0 Mt/y ethylene flex‑feed cracker supplied by 100% renewable power.
Electrification and hydrogen
In Germany, BASF progressed electrification at Ludwigshafen by installing a 95‑t plate falling‑film evaporator for a steam‑cracker heat pump to deliver up to 500 kt/y CO2‑free steam. Nobian’s Frankfurt site gained RFNBO certification for green hydrogen. BASF and Avery Dennison launched Butyl acrylate RE and 2‑Ethylhexyl acrylate RE attributed to renewable electricity.
Green ammonia projects
Project activity in ammonia was mixed. Topsoe signed a FEED agreement with Hynfra for green ammonia at Aqaba targeting 2030 exports. It also terminated supply agreements with First Ammonia after missed milestones. In the U.S., Beaumont New Ammonia was handed over to Woodside, transferring operations.
Pricing and supply
Input costs and logistics pressures translated into pricing actions. LANXESS lifted sulfur‑based products prices by an average 40%. BASF announced price increases for its commodity amines portfolio in Europe of up to 30%. Middle East developments disrupted gas and crude supply chains, with Sasol declaring force majeure on some sales.
Portfolio realignments
Portfolio moves continued. OCI closed the sale of OCI Ammonia Holding to AGROFERT while retaining terminal access via throughput. Its subsidiary also sold 2,000,000 Methanex common shares. In the Netherlands, Perpetual Next appointed Bilfinger for permitting of the Methanol Moerdijk biomethanol project.