US to spearhead global ammonia capacity additions through 2030

The US is set to drive the global ammonia capacity additions, occupying a share of 37% by 2030, as both demand and supply of ammonia are expected to grow in the country, according to GlobalData, the data and analytics company.  

GlobalData’s latest report Ammonia Market Trends, Capacity Additions by Region and Countries, Key Projects and Forecast to 2030, shows that the total ammonia capacity of under-construction and pre-construction projects in the US is expected to be around 29.02 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030.

Nivedita Roy, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This high-capacity addition of ammonia in the US is attributed to the abundance of low-cost natural gas, which is a primary feedstock for the production of ammonia. The large agriculture sector of the US relies heavily on ammonia-based fertilisers to enhance crop yields.”

To meet the growing demand for ammonia, the US is planning to expand its production capacity. As a result, the ammonia supply in the country is projected to rise from 17mtpa in 2023 to 19.27mtpa in 2030.

The major ammonia capacity addition in the country will come from Ascension Clean Energy Donaldsonville Ammonia Plant. With a capacity of 7.20mtpa, the plant is expected to start commencing production of ammonia in 2027.

St Charles Clean Fuels St. James Parish Ammonia Plant and Adams Fork Energy Mingo County Ammonia Plant follow next with capacities of 3mtpa and 2.16mtpa, respectively. They are expected to become operational by 2028 and 2027.