Ammonia's major use is as a nitrogen source in fertilizers where it is used to produce derivatives including ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium phosphates and ammonium sulphate. Ammonia is also used as intermediate in the production of nylons, acrylonitrile for fibres and plastics, isocyanates for polyurethanes, hydrazine and explosives.
World ammonia demand is expected to grow at just over 3%/year but ammonia capacity is predicted to grow at a faster rate leading to a growing surplus. China is the largest and one of the fastest growing markets while the US is the world's largest importer of ammonia.
The heart of ammonia manufacture is the Haber process where nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted together under high pressure and temperature. Most improvements to ammonia processes have been made through better catalyst systems, improved reformer and converter designs, and integration of energy needs and heat recovery.
Ammonia is a colourless, highly water-soluble gas with an intense, pungent, suffocating odour. Skin contact should be avoided when handling ammonia. Personnel should wear protective gloves and clothing.
Ammonia
Price Reports
ICIS pricing gives you access on a weekly or real time basis to the latest price movements and critical market commentary on the Ammonia market. Click below to see a quarterly market overview.
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Ammonia
Uses and Outlook
Ammonia is the basic building block of the world nitrogen industry and is the intermediate product from which a wide variety of nitrogen-based fertilizers and industrial products are produced. Fertilizer use accounts for around 85% of ammonia demand.
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Ammonia
Process Technologies
The heart of ammonia manufacture, the Haber process where nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted together under high pressure and temperature, goes back to before World War I. Hydrogen is usually produced by the steam reforming of hydrocarbons, with natural gas the dominant feedstock. It can also be produced by the partial oxidation of naphtha or residual oil using air or oxygen and from coal gasification. Nitrogen can be obtained by the liquefaction of air or from producer gas.
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