Market Overview:
Ammonia is an important nitrogen source used to produce nitrogen-containing fertilizers such as urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium phosphate. It is also used in fibers, plastics, explosives and cleaning products.
Market Dynamics:
Ammonia is mostly used in Australia for nitrogen fertilizers production due to the high demand from agricultural industry. According to recent reports, Australian agricultural sector has seen significant growth over past few years and is estimated to grow at over 3% annually during forecast period owing to rising food demand from growing population and demand for Australian agricultural exports globally. This rise in agricultural outputs will positively influence the demand for nitrogen fertilizers and subsequently ammonia market in Australia. In addition, growing demand for industrial use of ammonia like cleaning products manufacturing will also drive its market. However, stringent environmental regulations around CO2 emissions from ammonia production plants may slightly hamper the market growth during forecast period.
Major Drivers of the Australia Ammonia Market: Increased Fertilizer Demand Boosting Ammonia Consumption
The agricultural sector in Australia has been expanding significantly over the past few years. As the nation seeks to boost its agricultural output and meet the growing global food demand, the consumption of fertilizers has increased substantially. Ammonia is a key ingredient that is used in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizers such as urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. With the rise in fertilizer usage, the demand for ammonia from the fertilizer industry has surged as well.
Stringent Regulations on Nitrogen Oxide Emissions Favoring Ammonia Production Shift
The Australian government has introduced stringent regulations to curb nitrogen oxide emissions from industries including power generation and waste incineration. As ammonia production and processing contributes significantly lower NOx emissions compared to other sources, many companies are shifting towards ammonia. The favorable policy environment is encouraging investments in ammonia facilities and infrastructure to replace conventional technologies. This transition is expected to boost ammonia consumption volumes in the coming years.
Major Restraint of the Australia Ammonia Market: Transportation Issues Hindering Market Expansion
While ammonia demand is rising steadily across various end-use sectors, transportation of ammonia poses unique safety challenges due to its corrosive and toxic nature. There is a lack of dedicated pipeline infrastructure for long-distance ammonia transportation within Australia. Reliance on road and sea shipments makes distribution difficult and cost-intensive. Remote locations witness supply disruptions as setting up storage and handling facilities is a major undertaking. These transportation barriers restrict the market from reaching its true potential and expanding across all geographical regions.
Major Opportunity for the Australia Ammonia Market: Green Ammonia Production Opening New Growth Avenues
With the world accelerating energy transition, green ammonia is emerging as a promising carbon-free solution. Australia is well-positioned to tap the vast potential of green ammonia due to its abundance of renewable energy resources like solar and wind. Several projects are being planned and established to produce green ammonia through electrolysis using renewable power. This provides an opportunity for Australia to export green ammonia to high demand markets in Asia and become a globally significant supplier. It can also facilitate the decarbonization of domestic shipping, fertilizer manufacturing and other industries.
Major Trend in the Australia Ammonia Market: Rising Investments in Large-Scale Import Terminals
To cater to the increasing fertilizer demand and ensure steady ammonia supply, major players in the Australian market are investing heavily in setting up import terminals with large capacities. For instance, Incitec Pivot recently completed expansion of its ammonia import facility at Kwinana, Perth to achieve a handling capacity of 1 million tonnes per year. Yara is constructing a new ammonia import terminal near Brisbane which is expected to receive 800,000 tonnes annually once completed in 2024. These import hubs will strengthen Australia's position as a key ammonia importing and distribution center to support the agricultural growth momentum.
