Canada's Nutrien to indefinitely shut down Trinidad nitrogen fertilizer production site

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 5, Canadian fertilizer producer Nutrien decided to indefinitely shut down its nitrogen fertilizer production site located in the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad and Tobago. The site has an annual production capacity of approximately 2.2 million tonnes of ammonia and approximately 700,000 tonnes of urea liquor. After evaluating strategic alternatives and engaging with relevant stakeholders, Nutrien decided to cease subsequent production operations at the site due to persistently constrained local natural gas supply and uncertain supply prospects.

Nutrien announced on October 21, 2025, the initiation of a controlled shutdown process at the site, and completed the shutdown on the 23rd of the same month. At that time, port access restrictions imposed by the National Energy Corporation (NEC) of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the lack of a reliable and economically viable natural gas supply, had been continuously affecting the plant's cash flow. The company subsequently continued engaging with relevant stakeholders to evaluate options for the continued operation of the local business.

The site is equipped with 4 ammonia units and urea production facilities. Prior to the controlled shutdown in 2025, the plant sold approximately 85,000 tonnes of ammonia products and approximately 55,000 tonnes of urea products per month. Nutrien's annual report shows that in 2025, the site produced 1.18 million tonnes of ammonia and 540,000 tonnes of urea liquor, both below the corresponding production levels in 2024. The company was affected by natural gas supply curtailments in both 2024 and 2025.

Nutrien stated that this shutdown decision is intended to improve free cash flow and return on invested capital. Since the company had already assumed that the Trinidad site would no longer produce when preparing its 2026 operating plan, this decision will not change its annual nitrogen fertilizer sales volume guidance. The company's 2026 nitrogen fertilizer sales volume expectation remains at 9.2 million to 9.7 million tonnes.

Nutrien plans to continue relying on its North American nitrogen fertilizer production assets to meet customer demand, and to increase output by improving the operational reliability of existing facilities and implementing low-cost debottlenecking projects. The company also stated that it will be responsible for handling the personnel and operational transition matters at the Trinidad site.