Nutrien Ltd. will halt nitrogen production at its Trinidad facility on Oct. 23 after the National Energy Corp. blocked port access and natural gas deliveries became unreliable. The Canadian fertilizer manufacturer told workers that the state-controlled port authority confirmed restrictions that forced the controlled closure at Point Lisas Industrial Estate. The action stems from disputes over port fees that the National Energy Corp. wants to increase by 200 percent and charge retroactively to 2020.
Trinidad supplies 37 percent of American ammonia imports and ranks as a major methanol exporter, but declining gas availability threatens the petrochemical sector. Other producers like Methanex, Proman, Yara, and Koch face similar port fee demands that could trigger additional shutdowns. Washington recently imposed 10 percent tariffs on Trinidad products, prompting some manufacturers to redirect shipments to European buyers. Energy Minister Stuart Young acknowledged the Nutrien closure relates to port disputes while officials negotiate solutions with companies and state enterprises.
