Ammonium nitrate: Production route
Porous prills for blasting, dense granules for fields
What this tab covers How it is made: the main production routes or, for product families, the main product types and technologies, compared on share of supply, inputs per tonne, plant scale, yield, co-products and unit cost.All ammonium nitrate is made by neutralising nitric acid with ammonia; the routes differ in how the product is finished and what else is added. Porous low-density prills serve explosives, dense prills and granules serve fertiliser, CAN dilutes AN with carbonate for safety and soil benefit, and AN solutions go into UAN and emulsion explosives. A nitrophosphate route makes AN as a co-product when rock is dissolved in nitric acid. Every route depends on a nitric acid plant, which is where most process emissions arise.
Routes compared
| Route | Share of supply | Inputs per tonne | Typical scale | Yield | Co-products | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutralisation and prilling: technical (porous) AN | about a quarter of AN (indicative) | about 0.21 t NH3 plus 0.79 t HNO3 (100% basis) per t (stoichiometry) | 200-400 kt a year per plant (Chambal 240 kt; Smartchem Gopalpur 377 kt) | above 99% on nitrogen (indicative) | process condensate with traces of AN | ammonia about $210-220/t AN at the 2025 US Gulf average ammonia price of $450/short t (USGS; indicative) |
| Dense prills and granules: fertiliser-grade AN | majority of AN (indicative) | as above; 33.5-34.5% N product | 300-1,000 kt a year per site (indicative) | above 99% (indicative) | none material | as above |
| Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and AN solutions (UAN, emulsions) | CAN is the main European nitrogen fertiliser (indicative); share not published | about 0.75-0.8 t AN plus 0.2-0.25 t carbonate per t CAN (indicative) | as AN plants | as AN | none | slightly lower per tonne, similar per unit N (indicative) |
| Nitrophosphate (Odda) co-product | small (indicative) | not published | large integrated sites (indicative) | not published | calcium nitrate (sold as fertiliser) instead of phosphogypsum | not published |
How each route works
Neutralisation and prilling: technical (porous) ANAN melt is sprayed from the top of a prill tower at lower concentration; droplets cool and dry into porous, low-density prills that absorb fuel oil. Coated with anti-caking agents. Sold to explosives makers such as Orica and Solar Industries.
High-value industrial grade; strict security and licensing.
USGS MCS 2026; Sahi / CFCL (Aug 2026); Maritime Gateway (2021) Dense prills and granules: fertiliser-grade ANConcentrated melt (about 99.5%) is granulated in drums or fluid beds, or prilled densely, with stabilisers (magnesium nitrate) to stop caking from the 32 C crystal phase change.
Efficient nitrogen for cereals; security rules limit sales in some countries.
indicative Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and AN solutions (UAN, emulsions)Ground dolomite or limestone is mixed into AN melt to give CAN at 27% N, which is safer and suits acid soils. AN solution is mixed with urea solution for UAN (28-32% N) or emulsified with oil for explosives.
Safer and less hygroscopic; lower N content raises freight per unit N.
indicative Nitrophosphate (Odda) co-productPhosphate rock is dissolved in nitric acid instead of sulphuric acid; calcium nitrate is crystallised out and the solution is ammoniated to NP/NPK fertilisers containing AN. Used by Yara and in parts of China and Russia.
Avoids sulphur and gypsum; needs more nitric acid and ammonia.
indicative Unit economics are indicative ranges from the sources named; costs move with feedstock and energy prices, plant size and region.