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Yara Sluiskil, Netherlands
Sluiskil, Netherlands51.28°N 3.83°E
computed criticality37/100
reading
Yara Europe cut to 35% of capacity in August 2022; ≈70% of EU capacity idled at peak
2022Fault line
The Haber-Bosch process makes ammonia a direct derivative of natural gas: the 2022 price surge idled up to ≈70% of European capacity, Yara falling to 35% utilisation and BASF permanently closing a unit at Ludwigshafen. Europe shifted from a production logic to an import logic. The continent's nitrogen sovereignty now hinges on the price of gas.
Actors
Yara International (Oslo)
BASF (Ludwigshafen)
SKW Piesteritz (Wittenberg)
Depends on 2
CF Industries, Donaldsonville (Louisiana)Fertilizers & Food · Link↗Process catalysts, Grace, BASF, TopsoeChemicals & Materials · Critical anchor↗Feeds 3
Wheat, Egypt (GASC, Cairo)Fertilizers & Food↗Black Sea grain, Odesa (Ukraine)Fertilizers & Food↗Port of Rotterdam, MaasvlakteChokepoints↗Shocks endured
Europe switches off its ammonia plantsAug 25, 2022 · epicentre↗Sources
BASF / Fortune, 2022 ↗estimate