Ammonia is a vital compound in modern life, playing a critical role in agriculture, industry, and emerging energy solutions. As a key ingredient in fertilizers or as a low-carbon fuel, when produced sustainably, ammonia offers a pathway to addressing global food security and decarbonization challenges. Methanex produces 340kt of ammonia annually at its Beaumont facility.

Multiple Ammonia Production Pathways

Ammonia can be produced conventionally from natural gas (gray ammonia), with carbon capture (blue ammonia), or from renewable energy and water via electrolysis (green ammonia). Companies are exploring these pathways to develop low-carbon ammonia solutions.

Chemical End Uses

Ammonia is an industrial chemical used as the building block for a wide range of industrial and consumer products, including fertilizers, plastics and cleaning agents. Its unique chemistry, availability, and scalability make it difficult to replace in many applications.

• Fertilizers
  Ammonia is the backbone of nitrogen-based fertilizers like urea and ammonium nitrate, essential for global agriculture and food production.
• Plastics and Textiles
  Ammonia is used in producing nylon and other synthetic fibres for clothing, carpets, and industrial materials.
• Cleaning Agents
  Household and industrial cleaners leverage ammonia’s ability to dissolve grease and stains.
• Pharmaceuticals
  Ammonia is used in manufacturing certain drugs and chemical intermediates.

 Energy-Related End Uses

As a carbon-free molecule, ammonia is emerging as a cleaner energy carrier and fuel, offering significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to other fuels like coal or oil. It can support decarbonization goals when produced from both renewable and conventional sources.

• Industrial Refrigeration
  Ammonia’s excellent thermodynamic properties make it a preferred refrigerant in large-scale cooling systems.
• Power Generation
  Ammonia can be combusted or used in fuel cells to generate electricity with no CO₂ emissions.
• Marine Fuel
  Ammonia is being explored as a zero-carbon fuel for shipping, with pilot projects underway globally.

Agricultural and Industrial Applications

Ammonia is a cornerstone of agriculture and industry, offering efficient solutions for food production and cooling. Its affordability, scalability, and availability drive its demand in:

• Fertilizer Production
  Ammonia-based fertilizers support over 50% of global food production, with demand exceeding 150 million tonnes annually.
• Refrigeration Systems
  Ammonia-based refrigeration systems used in industrial cold storage and food processing are energy-efficient.