Ammonia Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Application (Fertilizers, Textile, Refrigeration, Pharmaceutical, Household & Industrial Cleaning, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global ammonia market size was USD 67.01 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow from USD 71.98 billion in 2021 to USD 110.93 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 6.4% during the 2021-2028 period. The sudden rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over. The impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with NH3 witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a decline of 16.8% in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. 

Around 80% of NH3 produced is used in agriculture as fertilizers to help sustain food production for billions of people across the world. The product is also used as refrigerant gas and in the manufacturing of textiles, plastics, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides, and other chemicals. It is also used in wastewater treatment, rubber, pulp & paper, food & beverages, and cold storage as a neutralizer, stabilizer, and nitrogen source, respectively. The increasing product utilization mainly in the fertilizer industry will bolster the overall business growth.

Negative Impacts on the Fertilizer Industry Supply Chain amid COVID-19 Pandemic to Stall Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe impacts on the fertilizer market supply chain in Asia Pacific. Crop manufacturers were affected by disruptions in international and local transport systems, delays in customs clearances, and clogged roads and ports, which inhibited their access to fertilizers. The dependency on oilseeds and grains production on these attributes has resulted in reduced production due to the inaccessibility of raw materials by farmers. The government of India, for instance, is closely monitoring the distribution and production of fertilizers to ensure that soil nutrients are easily available to farmers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak, labor shortage, and lockdown in China was limited to the first quarter of 2020, where the daily output declined by 20,000 tons to 125,000 tons. The production had been momentarily reduced by 80% to 90% in the first three months of 2020. As per the China Petrochemical Industry Association (CPCIA), after April 2020, fertilizer production returned to normal in China, leading to an increase in the demand for chemical fertilizers. Also, many countries have focused on food security issues and have taken actions to increase grain production.

LATEST TRENDS

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Demand for Ammonia to Increase as Scientists Focus on Reducing Greenhouse Gas

Ammonia is required to make fertilizers and is usually produced from nitrogen and hydrogen through the Haber-Bosch procedure. Its production using conventional fossil fuel-based processes is responsible for about 1.8% of the global CO2 emissions. Various researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Minnesota have been experimenting with a new electrolysis method that uses similar amounts of energy as that of the traditional method, thus producing an average of 2.8 tons of CO2 per ton of NH3. Moreover, using electricity derived from fossil fuels for the electrolysis process would result in 2.65 tons of CO2, whereas using renewables the process can have zero carbon emissions. In addition, the researchers are evaluating the possibility of using NH3 from the air rather than as a source of purified nitrogen gas. This would result in additional greenhouse gas (GHG) savings, as nitrogen gas needs to be purified and bottled.

Furthermore, companies continue to seek out new, low- or zero-carbon investment opportunities. Green hydrogen and NH3 are expected to be critical contributors to the world reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Various industry experts foresee that hydrogen will meet approximately 20% of the world’s energy needs by 2050. For instance, in October 2020, CF Industries announced that it would focus on green and low-carbon production, where NH3 is produced through a carbon-free process. To execute the process, the company has collaborated with technology partners and signed Memorandums of Understanding with Haldor Topsoe and ThyssenKrupp. CF Industries is also in discussion with global utilities and maritime transportation providers to use low-carbon ammonia directly as a fuel.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Fertilizer Consumption and Increased Agricultural Production to Drive Market Growth

The growing global population and the increasing demand for food are likely to generate revenue in the fertilizer industry. The fertilizer industry plays a pivotal role in agricultural productivity and crop yield. Fertilizers provide the major nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) that plants need to grow. The growing popularity of commercial agriculture globally is likely to drive the adoption of nitrogenous fertilizers. The market for these fertilizers is dependent upon the demand for oilseeds and grains crops that drives the overall fertilizer production.

Most of the ammonia produced is used in the agriculture industry as a source of nitrogen, which is vital for plant growth. The compound is utilized broadly in the fertilizer industry to produce solid materials such as urea, phosphate, ammonium nitrate, and sulfate. Additionally, ammonium phosphate is a fast-release fertilizer and can be used when planting new grass, when overseeding, when renovating the lawn, and for maintenance.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Exposure to High Concentrations of NH3 May Impact Human and Hinder Market Growth

Most people are exposed to NH3 from inhalation of vapors or gas. Since the product exists naturally and is present in cleaning solutions, people are very likely to get exposed to such sources. It interacts immediately upon contact with the eyes, skin, respiratory tract, and oral cavity. Exposure to low concentrations of ammonia in solutions or air may produce rapid eye or skin irritation. Higher concentrations may cause severe burns and injury. Any contact with concentrated solutions such as industrial cleaners may cause corrosive injuries including skin burns and permanent eye damage or blindness. Apart from these effects, exposure to high concentrations from swallowing solutions results in corrosive damage to the stomach, throat, and mouth.

SEGMENTATION

By Application Analysis

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Fertilizer Segment May Account for Major Market Share from 2021 to 2028

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into fertilizers, textiles, refrigerant gases, pharmaceuticals, household & industrial cleaning, and others.

The fertilizers segment dominated the global market share in 2020 and expected to continue its dominance in the forthcoming years. NH3 is a building block for ammonium nitrate fertilizers, which release nitrogen, an important nutrient that is used for plant growth, including lawns and farm crops. To maintain healthy crops, farmers mostly rely on fertilizer to keep their soil productive. Fertilizers help increase levels of essential nutrients such as selenium, boron, and zinc in food crops. The growing population and the increasing demand for food will boost the demand for fertilizers for better crop production. The development of advanced farming techniques and the rising utilization of bio-fertilizers are the key factors inducing market growth.

Ammonium hydroxide, also known as household ammonia, is an active ingredient that is used in many household cleaning products and disinfectants. It is used to clean various surfaces including sinks, tubs, tiles, countertops, toilets, and others. These cleaning solutions are suitable for household use, where 5% to 10% NH3 is mixed with water.

Ammonia is an efficient and popular refrigerant gas due to its superior thermodynamic properties and low cost. An NH3-based refrigeration system costs 10% to 20% less than Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) due to the fact that the product has a lower density in the liquid phase. In addition, any leakage can be detected quickly due to its odor, hence any refrigerant loss is also lower.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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The Asia Pacific market size stood at USD 27.41 billion in 2020 and the region is expected to dominate the ammonia market share during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing demand from the fertilizer industry in India and China. Rapid urbanization and growing populations have added to the demand for food, which will further accelerate fertilizer demand for better crop production. China is the largest fertilizer consumer and producer in the world. China’s soils are naturally phosphate deficient, which led to government policies to encourage phosphate use and production to boost overall yield.

Agriculture plays an important role in the economic development of agrarian India, with approximately 17% of the gross value added (GVA) and over 50% of the population depending on agricultural supply. India ranks third in the global food grain production after China and the United States mainly due to low crop productivity. With rising food demand and limited arable land, the long-term potential for the upsurge in fertilizer usage is reasonably high in India. The overall fertilizer consumption in India was 61.4 million tons in FY 2020.

The market in Europe may witness a significant growth rate in the forthcoming years. In Europe, NH3 production is mainly based on natural gas production, as a key raw material and steam methane reforming (SMR) as the major technology. The production of nitrogen fertilizer is energy-intensive. However, the European fertilizer industry has made improvements in the energy efficiency of mineral fertilizer production. Companies are investing in the present technology, which is likely to improve energy efficiency and have the lowest CO2 emissions. For instance, in February 2021, A.P. Møller-Maersk signed a project to build Europe’s largest production facility of carbon dioxide-free green NH3, in Esbjerg on the west coast of Denmark.

The U.S. held the highest share in the North America market in 2020 due to growth in the agriculture industry. According to the World Bank Development Indicators, the agricultural land in the U.S. was 44.36 % in 2018. The rise in government initiatives for the implementation of modern agriculture methods and advanced infrastructure has added to the high revenue of the North America market.

Increasing awareness regarding the importance of household hygiene may boost the demand for household cleaning products in the Latin American region. Latin American economic development, ample supply of natural gas, demand for fertilizers, and improvements in infrastructure helped to draw interest from various probable fertilizer investors.

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The Middle East is one of the largest producers of nitrogen fertilizers in the world. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar are the leading urea and NH3 producing countries in the Middle East region. Middle East suppliers serve the NH3 import markets in China, South Korea, India, and Taiwan, exporting over 3 million tons a year.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Companies to Invest in Research and Development for Commercializing New & Advanced Technologies

This market is highly competitive in nature with the presence of various key market players in the industry. Most of the key industrial participants are investing in R&D activities for innovating developed and new technologies. For instance, in August 2020, the Japanese shipping company NYK Line, shipbuilder Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU), and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) signed a joint R&D agreement for the commercialization of an ammonia-fuelled ammonia gas carrier (AFAGC) that would use NH3 as the main fuel. The R&D is expected to contribute considerably to the de-carbonization of maritime and energy industries.

In addition, companies are acquiring, collaborating, increasing production capacity, opening new production plants, and launching new products to produce green NH3 with zero-emission and generate competition across the value chain.

• In April 2021, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. signed a procurement and engineering contract with Thyssenkrupp for the company’s green NH3 project at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana, manufacturing unit. The project is set to be completed by 2023. CF Industries will integrate the carbon-free hydrogen generated by the electrolysis plant into existing synthesis loops to enable the production of 20,000 tons per year of green ammonia.


• In June 2019, EuroChem Group AG, a fertilizer company, opened a new NH3 production plant, EuroChem Northwest, in Kingisepp, Russia. The plant has the largest single-train production capacity in Europe, at 1 million tons per year. In July 2019, the plant surpassed 350,000 tons of NH3 production.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Yara International ASA (Oslo, Norway)


• BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany)


• CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (Illinois, the U.S.)


• Nutrien Ltd. (Saskatoon, Canada)


• SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)


• Qatar Petroleum (Doha, Qatar)


• EuroChem Group (Zug, Switzerland)


• Koch Fertilizer, LLC (Kansas, the U.S.)


• Praxair Technology, Inc. (Connecticut, the U.S.)


• China National Petroleum Corporation (Beijing, China)


• Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCFL) (Mumbai, India)


• Other Key Players

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• In May 2021, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines is reentering the ammonia shipping trade after an absence of five years. In addition, the company announced that it will participate in a joint development study on the ammonia fuel supply chain.


• In March 2021, Development of the Special Economic Zone, an Oman- based company at Duqm (Tatweer) collaborated with ACME Solar Holdings Ltd, a solar developer company in India plans to invest USD 2.5 billion to manufacture green hydrogen and green ammonia in the Duqm SEZ.


• In May 2021, Stamicarbon launched Stami Green Ammonia Technology for green and sustainable fertilizer production.


• In July 2021, ACME Solar Holding Private Limited, an Indian based solar developer company having 5.5 GW renewable energy, is set to launch its first renewable ammonia and hydrogen "semi-commercial" plant in Rajasthan state by July-August. In addition, the company is also building a much larger plant of 2,400 metric tons per day capacity of renewable ammonia in Oman that will be ready by December, with the first phase is likely to be commissioned by end 2022 or early 2023.


• In July 2021, Angus Chemical Company launched a new ammonia alternative for hair color formulations.


• In July 2021, Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and McGill and recently received a funding boost to undertake a collaborative project with the goal of producing renewable, “green” ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen by means of an innovative plasma-catalytic process.


• In June 2021, Yara International, a Scandinavian fertilizer company collaborated with Trafigura, a commodities trading firm on the promotion and development of ammonia usage as a clean fuel in shipping and to explore possible opportunities on certain blue and green ammonia to fuel infrastructure and create new market opportunities.


• In March 2021, Amon Maritime collaborated with Navigare Logistics and Mosvolds Rederi, to create a zero-emissions dry bulk shipping company, with ammonia-fueled ships by 2024.


• In July 2021, Oman’s strategic green hydrogen project HYPORT Duqm has signed an agreement with Uniper, an energy giant company. Under the agreement, Uniper will be joining the project team to provide engineering services and negotiate an exclusive offtake agreement of green ammonia.


• In July 2021, Euronav, a Belgium-based tanker shipping company, shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), classification societies Lloyd’s Register, and DNV have closed a joint development project (JDP) for the development of ammonia-fitted tankers.


• In June 2021, The Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP) has awarded USD 12.87 million (DKK81 million) to a green ammonia project managed by Haldor Topsoe, Skovgaard Invest, and Vestas. The project aims at building a 10 MW green ammonia plant directly coupled to solar power generation and local wind. The plant, to be located in Western Jutland, Denmark, and is expected to be operational by 2023.


• In June 2021, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADBOC) collaborated with Fertiglobe, an Abu Dhabi-based chemical company to develop its first blue ammonia facility with a capacity of 1 million metric tons per year, as the energy producer seeks to attract investments in low-carbon products. The facility will be located in TA'ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone in the industrial hub of Ruwais and is expected to be operational by 2025.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The global ammonia market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on crucial aspects such as leading companies, and applications. The report also offers insights into market trends and highlights vital industry developments. This report includes historical data & forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels, and analyzes the industry's latest market dynamics and opportunities. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report encompasses various factors contributing to the market's growth in recent years.

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