Trinidad and Tobago’s largest ammonia producer, Proman, yesterday welcomed news that the US government has removed the 15 per cent tariffs previously imposed on imports of fertilisers into the USA.
In a news release issued yesterday, Proman said, “The removal of the tariffs supports one of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading exports, and further reinforces the country’s position as a stable, reliable supplier within the global fertiliser and energy value chains.
As the largest tenant and employer on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate, Proman is among the world’s top 10 leading fertiliser producers, supplying products essential to farmers worldwide to ensure the healthy plant growth and crop yields needed to feed a growing global population.”
On November 14, 2025, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse his April 2 directive that had imposed a 15 per cent tariff on nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers previously listed under Annex II of Executive Order 14257. This has allowed T&T to benefit from duty-free access for key fertiliser products, including anhydrous ammonia, urea, and Urea Ammonium Nitrate.
Proman, which is the sole producer of UAN in Trinidad and the world’s second-largest exporter of UAN to the United States, stressed that the US is T&T’s single largest trading partner and the company’s largest export market for UAN.
Anand Ragbir, managing director, Proman Trinidad, said: “This is a significant boost for Trinidad and Tobago’s UAN export market and reinforces the critical role of competitively priced fertilisers in global food security. The removal of these tariffs supports price stability and affordability for farmers, while safeguarding critical export revenues for our country”.
Ragbir also hailed the government’s push for the turnaround, stating, “We look forward to continued collaboration with the Government, our US partners and industry stakeholders as we seek to address further barriers to trade, including the tariffs imposed on methanol and ammonia, to ensure the long-term resilience, sustainability, and global competitiveness of the sector.”
Proman is responsible for 38 per cent of the nation’s ammonia production, followed by Nutrien’s 31 per cent output.
Nutrien shut down its Trinidad operations on October 23, due to “uncertainty with respect to port access and a lack of reliable and economic gas supply that has reduced the free cash flow contribution of the Trinidad nitrogen operations over an extended period of time.”
The government is still in talks with Nutrien concerning the possible resumption of operations in this country.
Nutrien’s departure threatened to disrupt carbon dioxide distribution to other industries, but Proman stepped in on October 28 to deliver an alternative supply of carbon dioxide (CO2) to Massy Gas, to ensure no disruption to customers across Trinidad and Tobago.
