CF Industries, Trafigura, and Envalior deliver VACI-certified low-carbon ammonia to Europe, advancing sustainable industrial materials and decarbonized supply chains.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., recognized as the world’s largest ammonia producer, has announced the shipment of certified low-carbon ammonia from its Donaldsonville, Louisiana facility. This milestone delivery was purchased by Trafigura, a prominent global commodities trading company, for onward shipment to Envalior, a leading global producer of engineering materials. Envalior plans to utilize this low-carbon ammonia in the production of low-carbon caprolactam, a key intermediate in the manufacture of nylon and other industrial materials. On September 25, Trafigura successfully loaded 23,500 metric tons of low-carbon ammonia, with Antwerp, Belgium, as the destination port. The ammonia is certified under the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity (VACI) Program, ensuring it has a markedly lower well-to-gate carbon footprint compared to conventional ammonia derived from natural gas.
Bert Frost, Executive Vice President of Sales, Market Development, and Supply Chain at CF Industries, emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration. “We are proud to partner with industry leaders Trafigura and Envalior as we work together to establish a low-carbon ammonia supply chain, anticipating the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism. Delivering our first low-carbon premium offering to Europe is an important milestone for CF Industries,” Frost stated.
Patricio Norris, Trafigura’s Global Head of Ammonia and LPG, highlighted the significance of the shipment. “Delivering our first low-carbon ammonia cargo to Europe is a major achievement. This would not have been possible without the support of CF Industries and Envalior. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to advance low-carbon solutions for industrial applications,” he said.
Thorsten Bredemann, VP of Global Marketing & Sales Intermediates at Envalior, underscored the company’s commitment to sustainability. “Sustainability is integral to our operations. This shipment represents a critical step in decarbonizing our supply chain and delivering climate-resilient solutions. By incorporating certified low-carbon feedstocks into our production of caprolactam, ammonium sulfate, and downstream PA6, we reinforce our dedication to low-carbon materials while supporting our customers’ environmental objectives,” Bredemann explained.
The enabling factor for CF Industries’ low-carbon ammonia production is the Donaldsonville Complex’s newly commissioned carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage project, launched in July 2025. This facility can sequester up to 2 million metric tons of CO2 annually, generated through the ammonia manufacturing process. With this infrastructure, CF Industries anticipates producing approximately 1.9 million tons of VACI-certified low-carbon ammonia each year, which may also be processed into low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers.
VACI is a voluntary program developed by The Fertilizer Institute that verifies greenhouse gas emissions from ammonia production at specific facilities, tracing the carbon footprint from natural gas extraction to production gate. The methodology relies on industry-expert calculations and is subject to third-party verification.
This recent shipment to Europe marks CF Industries’ second low-carbon ammonia delivery, following an earlier sale to a customer in Africa, reinforcing the company’s growing role in supporting global decarbonization initiatives.
