OCP Plans $450 Million U.S. Fertilizer Plant
Morocco’s OCP Group and U.S. farmer-owned cooperative CHS are planning a $450 million phosphate fertilizer plant in Louisiana, in a project aimed at increasing domestic production and reducing U.S. reliance on imports.
The proposed facility would be developed through a joint venture at Cornerstone Energy Park in Waggaman, Louisiana. It is expected to produce more than 1 million metric tonnes of phosphate-based fertiliser annually once operational.
The plant would be the first of its kind constructed in the United States since 1984, according to the companies.
OCP and CHS Target U.S. Fertilizer Supply
The United States currently imports approximately 40% of the phosphate-based fertiliser needed to meet farmer demand. The proposed facility could reduce the country’s dependence on imported phosphate fertiliser by more than 48%, according to CHS.
Under the proposed partnership, OCP Group would supply phosphoric acid to the Louisiana facility. The finished fertiliser would be distributed through the networks of OCP North America and CHS, which supplies cooperatives, retailers and farmers across the United States.
The location at Cornerstone Energy Park also provides access to existing industrial infrastructure and transportation links through the Mississippi River system, supporting the movement of raw materials and finished products.
$450 Million Project Still Requires Approval
The project represents an estimated capital investment of approximately $450 million in Jefferson Parish. It is not yet an operating plant, as the proposed joint venture remains subject to project-related and funding approvals.
Detailed engineering is already underway. If the necessary approvals are obtained, construction is expected to take up to 24 months.
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The project is also expected to create approximately 500 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs in Jefferson Parish. The companies estimate a broader impact of about 924 direct and services-support jobs during the project period.
For OCP, the investment would expand its presence in the U.S. agricultural market. For CHS, the project would add domestic phosphate fertilizer production to its supply network.
The proposed facility reflects a broader effort to increase U.S. fertilizer manufacturing capacity and make agricultural supply chains less dependent on overseas sources. Its final impact will depend on securing the required approvals, completing construction and reaching planned production capacity.
