Natural Gas and the U.S. Fertilizer Industry Harry Vroomen Vice President, Economic Services The Fertilizer Institute July 15, 2010 www.tfi.org
Outline of Presentation Brief Intro on Fertilizer Focus on N Production Anhydrous Ammonia Impact of Increased U.S. Natural Gas Prices Climate Change Legislation Concluding Remarks
Contributions of the Domestic Fertilizer Industry Fertilizer nutrients account for 40-60% of total crop production! => Enable the U.S. to feed the world; without it, the U.S. (and world) would have to plant 2X as many acres, which is impossible, or have significantly less agricultural output which would result in higher food prices and significantly more world hunger! Agriculture is one sector in the U.S. budget accounts where we have a POSITIVE trade surplus. Fertilizer is one of the primary inputs which makes our highly productive agriculture possible! In addition to it s SIG contribution to AG, domestic fertilizer Prod: - Creates a total of 245 thousand U.S. jobs! - Provides a total U.S. economic contribution of over $ 58 Billion!
NPK NITROGEN (N) is a primary building block for all organisms. It is essential to making proteins, helps keep plants green and is a critical component of soil structure. COMES FROM THE AIR PHOSPHORUS (P) is found in every living cell. Phosphorus is a component of DNA and it also plays vital roles in capturing light during photosynthesis, helping with seed germination, and helping plants use water efficiently. Plants also use phosphorus to help fight external stress and prevent disease. COMES FROM ANCIENT SEA LIFE POTASSIUM (K) is essential to the workings of every living cell. It plays an important role in plant s water utilization and also helps regulate the rate of photosynthesis. Other aspects of plant health influenced by potassium include the growth of strong stalks, protection from extreme temperatures, and the ability to fight stress and pests such as weeds and insects. COMES FROM EVAPORATED OCEANS
80% Share of World Crop and Fertilizer Products Traded, 2008 77% 70% 60% 58% percent of production which is exported 50% 40% 30% 20% 16% 21% 28% 36% 20% 23% 30% 37% 33% 48% 10% 6% 11% 0% Rice Corn Wheat Cotton Soybeans AN Urea Nit. Sol. Amm. Phosphate Amm. Sulf. TSP Potash Source: USDA, IFA.
NH 3 atmosphere natural gas Anhydrous ammonia production Source of the nitrogen in fertilizer Haber-Bosch process (Fritz Haber/Carl Bosch) Combines N (atmosphere) with H (natural gas) 32.5 MMBtu s natural gas per ton ammonia
Natural Gas Required to Produce a Ton of Anhydrous Ammonia 37 36 1983 to 2006 => 11 % increase in efficiency 35 34 33 32 31 30 Million Btu per ton of ammonia 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Source: TFI.
Natural Gas as a Share of Total Anhydrous Ammonia Production Cost 95% 90% 85% 2004 08: $5.64 $8.84 MMBtu 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% $ $1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7 $8 $9 $10 $11 $12 $13 $14 $15 Price of Natural Gas $/MMBtu
What Happened the Last Time U.S. Natural Gas Prices Increased? 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 $ MMBtu Source: Spot-delivered-to-pipeline price, Natural Gas Week.
Cumulative U.S. Ammonia Plant Closures vs. Natural Gas Prices 30 9 25 25 25 26 8 7 number of plants 20 15 10 1985-1997 Average Natural Gas Price of $1.90 MMBtu 12 13 17 21 6 5 4 3 natural gas price - $/MMBtu 7 2 5 4 1 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Source: Blue, Johnson and Associates, IFDC, Natural Gas Week and The Fertilizer Institute. 0
U.S. Nitrogen Sources - Ammonia Production and N Imports 16 60% 14 55% 50% 12 45% million short tons N 10 8 6 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% Imports as share of Total 4 15% 2 10% 5% 0 1991/92 1993/94 1995/96 1997/98 1999/00 2001/02 2003/04 2005/06 2007/08 Ammonia Production Nitrogen Imports Imports as share of Total (right scale) 0% Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and The Fertilizer Institute.
Most imports from countries with no climate change legislation!
500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 U.S. Retail Fertilizer Prices Reach Record 1990-1992 = 100 1995 July 1996 July 1997 July 1998 July 1999 July 2000 July 2001 July 2002 July 2003 July 2004 July 2005 July 2006 July 2007 July 2008 July Increase of 356 percent Jan. 2000 - Sep/Oct. 2008 Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Spot delivered-to-pipeline Natural Gas Prices 13.00 12.00 Dollars Per MMBtu 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 Average Gas Price: 1985-1999: $ 1.97/MMBtu 2000-2008: $ 6.03/MMBtu 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Source: Monthly Average, Natural Gas Week.
Potential Impact of Climate Change Legislation on: 1. The Domestic Fertilizer Manufacturing Industry: - Direct Impacts cost of CO2 emissions allowances - Indirect: Higher domestic energy (natural gas, electricity) prices 2. U.S. Agricultural Production Costs: Doane Study Crops Livestock Increased Energy and other Input Prices USDA Estimates
Where do we get our electricity? Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing Other** 2.4% Local Utility* 97.4% *'Local Utility' is an entity that produces and/or delivers a particular energy source **'Other' includes independent producers, brokers, marketers, and marketing subsidiaries of utilities; for the case of electricity sources, also include small power producers and cogenerators not located at the establishment site. Source:EIA Manufacturers Energy Consumption Survey 2002
Where do we get our natural gas? (fuel and feedstock) Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing Other** 99.8% Local Utility* 0.2% *'Local Utility' is an entity that produces and/or delivers a particular energy source **'Other' includes independent producers, brokers, marketers, and marketing subsidiaries of utilities; for the case of electricity sources, also include small power producers and cogenerators not located at the establishment site. Source:EIA Manufacturers Energy Consumption Survey 2002
Costs of Potential Climate Change Legislation to U.S. Fertilizer Manufacturers Nitrogen Fertilizer production would be impacted in four major ways: 1. Through the direct cost of allowances the industry would need to purchase to offset emissions estimated cost of $1.02-1.43 billion, before free allowances* 2. Through the indirect increase in electricity costs (through suppliers purchases of emission allowances and through cogeneration of electricity) - potentially covered under current proposed bill 3. The unknown impact of fuel switching which will inevitably raise the price of natural gas estimated cost of hundreds of millions of dollars Nothing in the bill to cover this => A competiveness (survival) issue! 4. 1. 3. above place the domestic industry at a competitive disadvantage relative to foreign producers from countries with no climate change laws because most foreign producers do not have to deal with these cost increases! * Computed using 2008 nitrogen production data and a CO 2 cost of $25-$35/ton.
Costs to U.S. Fertilizer Manufacturers - continued Phosphorous and Potash Producers Will Also Be Impacted: Phosphorous: - Through the direct cost of allowances the industry would need to purchase to offset emissions from the production of phosphoric acid; Potash: - Through the unknown impact of fuel switching which will inevitably raise the price of natural gas, which is used in the drying process. Nothing in current proposed bills to cover ANY of these costs!
45.0% 44.8% Purchased Natural Gas (fuel and non-fuel use) as a percent of industry's value of shipments - Top 10 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% Natural Gas used as a feedstock (27.3%) 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 17.5% Natural Gas used for fuel purposes 10.0% 5.0% 7.7% 6.0% 4.7% 4.6% 4.0% 4.0% 3.6% 3.5% 3.5% 0.0% Nitrogenous Fertilizers Flat Glass Source: EIA Manufacturers Energy Consumption Survey - 2002 Formula used: ((natural gas fuel use + natural gas non-fuel use) * Price)/Value of Shipments Data years used: Prices - 2002 (latest data available) Total fuel use - 2002 (used to make fair comparison) Value of Shipments - 2002 (used to make fair comparison) Note: Green bars represent industries that are not listed in EPA's list of presumptively eligible sectors Carbon Black Ethyl Alcohol Glass Containers Other Basic Organic Chemicals Electrometallurgical Ferroalloy Products Paperboard Mills Cyclic Crudes and Intermediates Petrochemicals
Purchased nonfuel (feedstock) Natural Gas - 2006 Other Basic Inorganic Chemicals 2.6% Phosphatic Fertilizers 2.1% Carbon Black 2.6% Plastics Materials and Resins 2.8% Iron and Steel Mills 7.9% Noncellulosic Organic Fibers 1.8% Ethyl Alcohol 0.5% All Other 5.4% Nitrogenous Fertilizers 43.8% Industrial Gases 12.1% Other Basic Organic Chemicals 18.5% Source: EIA - 2006 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) (latest available data) Note 1: "All Other" includes: all other industries that are estimated to use less than 0.5TBtu natural gas Note 2: Industry ranked using 6-digit NAICS code level
Climate Change: Issues for the Fertilizer Industry Fuel Switching The Natural Gas Industry is advocating for government subsidies to close old coal fired plants. Natural gas to pick up excess capacity. Increased natural gas demand puts upward price pressure on critical feedstock for fertilizer production. Higher U.S. natural gas prices increase vulnerability to international nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer competition.
Net Generation of Electricity by Energy Source 2008 Hydroelectric Conventional 6.0% Petroleum Liquids 1.2% Other Renewables 2.5% Petroleum Coke 0.4% Other Gases 0.3% Other 0.1% Nuclear 19.4% Coal 48.5% Natural Gas 21.6% Source: EIA
U.S. Natural Gas Demand - 2008 U.S. Natural Gas Consumption by End Use (Trillion Cubic Feet) 2008 Lease and Plant Fuel 1.28 Lease Fuel - Plant Fuel - Pipeline & Distribution Use 0.62 Volumes Delivered to Consumers 21.30 Residential 4.87 Commercial 3.12 Industrial 6.62 Vehicle Fuel 0.03 Electric Power 6.66 Total Consumption 23.21 Source: EIA Data
Electricity Generator Nameplate Capacity 2007 Hydroelectric Conventional 7.1% Petroleum 5.7% Pumped Storage 1.9% Wind 1.5% Other 1.8% Nuclear 9.7% Natural Gas 41.3% Coal 30.9% Source: EIA
U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity from Natural Gas Capacity - 2008 Number of Generators: 5,439 Generator nameplate: 449,389 Megawatts Net Summer: 392,876 Megawatts Net Winter: 422,184 Megawatts Ave. Summer/Winter: 407,530 Megawatts Total capacity: 3,423,252 thousand Megawatt hours = 407,530 Megawatts * 24 hrs./day * 350 days/yr. Source: EIA.
U.S. capacity to generate electricity from natural gas 2008 Ave. Net Summer/Winter Total electricity generation capacity from natural gas: 3,423.3 thousand MWh Available Capacity 74.4% 2008 Actual Consumption (876.9 thousand MWh) 25.6 % Source: EIA Required 6.66TCF 29% of total U.S. Natural Gas Demand!
Net Generation of Electricity by Energy Source: 2008 2.0 trillion megawatt hours 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 There is ample capacity to produce more electricity from natural gas and significant electricity production currently from coal which natural gas can displace for natural gas demand in electricity production to rise significantly! 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Coal Natural Gas Nuclear Hydroelectric, Net Other Renewables Other Source: EIA
Snippets from EIA s Annual Energy Outlook 2009 with projections to 2030 In addition to ongoing uncertainty with respect to future demand growth and the costs of fuel, labor, and new plant construction, it appears that capacity planning decisions for new generating plants already are being affected by the potential impacts of policy changes that could be made to limit or reduce GHG emissions. Instead of relying heavily on the construction of new coal-fired plants, the power industry constructs more new natural-gas-fired plants, which account for the largest share of new power plant additions, followed by smaller amounts of renewable, coal, and nuclear capacity. Stage is already being set for an increase in natural gas demand!
CONCLUSIONS Domestic Fertilizer Production Makes a Significant Contribution to U.S. Agriculture and the U.S. economy: Accounts for 40-60 percent of crop production feed world + Ag. trade surplus; Creates a total of 245 thousand U.S. jobs! Provides a total U.S. economic contribution of over $ 58 Billion! Climate Change Legislation Will Significantly Raise Production Costs of the U.S. Fertilizer Industry, Particularly for the Nitrogen Sector: Increases the Uncertainty of running the business - number of free allowances?; What will be the cost of the allowances: $25/ton CO2?, $30?, $35?, $40? Increased energy costs electricity and especially natural gas, where the rise in price will add hundreds of millions of dollars to production costs! Higher costs will significantly impact the international competitiveness of industry! Will place thousands of productive jobs in rural America at risk! The Increase in Fertilizer Production Costs, Energy Prices, and other Farm Input Costs which rise with Energy Prices Will Lead To: Significantly Higher Domestic Crop Production Costs; Significantly Higher Livestock Production Costs; And Significantly Lower Farm Income!
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