From Canada's The Deep Dive, March 21:
A technical glitch has forced the closure of Yara Pilbara, Australia’s largest producer of ammonia, a critical input for urea fertilizer and mining explosives, for at least two months. The shutdown, which began this week, disrupts a key supply chain at a time when global ammonia trade is already strained by geopolitical conflicts.
The outage at the Pilbara facility, located in Western Australia, stems from a power outage that damaged critical systems, although specifics were not provided. Yara, a global leader in fertilizer production, has confirmed that repairs and safety checks will keep the plant offline until at least late May 2026. This closure impacts not only agricultural sectors reliant on urea for crop production but also mining operations in Australia that depend on ammonia for explosives.
The plant last year produced 850,000 tonnes of ammonia, while the second largest in the country, found near Perth, produced only 255,000 tonnes last year.
Compounding the issue roughly 25% of the world’s ammonia trade, and 43% of urea, is currently blocked due to the ongoing Iran war which has blocked the Strait of Hormuz. With global supplies already tight, the loss of Yara Pilbara’s output could drive up costs for farmers and miners alike....
....MORE
Also at The Deep Dive March 21:
Canadians Slide To New Low In Happiness Index
