Woodside takes control of Beaumont ammonia plant, expanding U.S. export capacity

Woodside Energy has taken full operational control of the Beaumont New Ammonia facility in southeast Texas following completion of performance testing. This milestone supports the company’s expansion into lower-carbon energy products. The 1.1 million tonne-per-year plant, located about 140 kilometers east of Houston, is expected to nearly double current U.S. ammonia export capacity once fully operational.

Woodside has secured supply agreements with major international customers for conventional ammonia, with deliveries scheduled through 2026 under market-linked pricing. The company continues to negotiate offtake agreements for lower-carbon ammonia. However, blue ammonia production is now expected to be delayed beyond 2026 due to construction delays at a third-party facility supplying essential feedstock for the carbon capture and storage process.

The Beaumont facility is expected to compete with Gulf Coast producers such as CF Industries and Nutrien in both domestic and export markets. This additional production coincides with the normalization of global ammonia trade following the gradual reopening of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the June 15 ceasefire. Ammonia remains a critical feedstock for nitrogen fertilizers, including urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), making the plant strategically important for global agricultural supply chains.

Source: Woodside Energy