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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

¨ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004   Commission file number: 1-8520

 


 

TERRA INDUSTRIES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Maryland

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

52-1145429

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Terra Centre 600 Fourth Street P.O. Box 6000 Sioux City, Iowa

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

51102-6000

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (712) 277-1340

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


Common Shares, without par value   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.)    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common shares were last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common shares, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $218,011,931.28.

 

The number of shares of Common Shares, without par value, outstanding as of March 1, 2005 was 92,984,216.

 



Table of Contents

Documents Incorporated by Reference

 

Certain portions of the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Registrant to be held on May 3, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference into Part III hereof.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    PART I     
Items 1 and 2.   Business and Properties    3
Item 3.   Legal Matters    16
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    16
    Executive Officers of Terra    17
    PART II     
Item 5.   Market for Terra’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    18
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data    19
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    20
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    37
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    40
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosures    83
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures    83
Item 9B.   Other Information    86
    PART III     
Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of Terra    86
Item 11.   Executive Compensation    87
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    87
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    88
Item 14.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    88
    PART IV     
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    89
Signatures        100
Index to Financial Statement Schedules, Reports and Consents    S-1

 

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ITEMS 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

 

Terra Industries Inc., a Maryland corporation, is referred to as “Terra,” “we” or “our” throughout this report. References to Terra also include the direct and indirect subsidiaries of Terra Industries Inc. where required by the context, including the recently acquired Mississippi Chemical Corporation. Subsidiaries not wholly-owned by Terra include a limited partnership, Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P., (“TNCLP”), which, through its subsidiary, Terra Nitrogen, Limited Partnership, operates Terra’s manufacturing facility in Verdigris, Oklahoma. Terra is the sole general partner and the majority limited partner in TNCLP. Terra’s principal corporate office is located at Terra Centre, 600 Fourth Street, P.O. Box 6000, Sioux City, Iowa 51102-6000 and its telephone number is (712) 277-1340.

 

Terra makes available free of charge through its web site, www.terraindustries.com, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Terra’s internet web site and the information contained or incorporated therein are not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

MCC Acquisition

 

On December 21, 2004, Terra completed its acquisition of Mississippi Chemical Corporation (“MCC”), which we refer to herein as the “MCC Acquisition.” Through MCC, we acquired nitrogen products manufacturing facilities at Donaldsonville, Louisiana and Yazoo City, Mississippi; a 50% equity interest in Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, a 50/50 ammonia production joint venture with KNC Trinidad Limited; FMCL Limited Liability Company, a 50/50 ammonia shipping joint venture with KNC Trinidad Limited; and Houston Ammonia Terminal, L.P., a 50/50 ammonia storage joint venture with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. Simultaneously with the MCC Acquisition, MCC emerged from bankruptcy proceedings administered under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Pursuant to MCC’s second amended and restated Plan of Reorganization, and prior to the consummation of the MCC Acquisition, MCC’s phosphate business was separated and transferred to certain creditors. Unless the context requires otherwise, statements in Items 1 and 2 of this report give effect to the MCC Acquisition.

 

Business Overview

 

Terra is a leading North American and U.K. producer and marketer of nitrogen products serving both agricultural and industrial end-use markets. In addition, we own a 50% interest in an ammonia production joint venture in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Terra is one of the largest North American producers of ammonia, the basic building block of nitrogen fertilizers. We upgrade a significant portion of the ammonia we produce into higher value products, which are easier for agricultural end-users to transport, store and apply to crops than ammonia. We own nine manufacturing facilities in North America and the U.K. capable of producing nitrogen products. Two of these nine facilities (Beaumont, Texas and Woodward, Oklahoma) can also produce methanol. Our Beaumont, Texas facility, which historically has been a significant producer of methanol and also has the capability to produce ammonia, was mothballed in December, 2004 and is out of production.

 

Nitrogen is both a global and local commodity: global because it is both produced and traded in almost all regions of the world, local because local fertilizer customers display preferences for nitrogen in one of four basic forms based upon local conditions. The principal forms of nitrogen fertilizer products that are

 

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traded globally are ammonia (82% nitrogen by weight) and urea (46% nitrogen by weight). Ammonium nitrate (AN) (34% nitrogen by weight) is traded to a lesser extent, primarily in international markets. Urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) has only recently been traded in international markets. It is less likely to be traded internationally because it carries a high transportation cost due to its high water content. Because transportation is a significant component of a customer’s total cost, a key to competitiveness in the nitrogen business is to have the lowest delivered cost for the customer’s product of choice, while providing a reliable source of supply.

 

The locations of Terra’s North American production facilities provide Terra a competitive advantage in serving agricultural customers in the Corn Belt and other major agricultural areas in the United States and Canada. Terra’s U.K. facilities are able to serve competitively the entire British agricultural market. Our Point Lisas ammonia production facility in Trinidad and Tobago serves the international nitrogen markets and benefits from access to low-cost natural gas supplies. Terra’s facilities have the following production capacities:

 

     Annual Capacity1

Location


   Ammonia2

   UAN3

   AN4

   Urea5

   Methanol6

Beaumont, Texas7

   255,000    —      —      —      225,000,000

Donaldsonville, Louisiana

   500,000    —      —      —      —  

Port Neal, Iowa

   370,000    840,000    —      60,000    —  

Verdigris, Oklahoma

   1,050,000    2,200,000    —      —      —  

Woodward, Oklahoma8

   440,000    340,000    —      25,000    40,000,000

Yazoo City, Mississippi9

   500,000    600,000    775,000    7,000    —  

Courtright, Ontario

   480,000    400,000    —      175,000    —  

Severnside, U.K.

   265,000    —      500,000    —      —  

Billingham, U.K.10

   550,000    —      520,000    —      —  
    
  
  
  
  

Point Lisas, Trinidad and Tobago11

   360,000    —      —      —      —  
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   4,770,000    4,380,000    1,795,000    267,000    265,000,000
    
  
  
  
  

1. Annual capacity includes an allowance for planned maintenance shutdowns.
2. Measured in gross tons of ammonia produced; net tons available for sale will vary with upgrading requirements.
3. Measured in tons of UAN containing 28% nitrogen by weight.
4. Measured in tons.
5. Urea is sold as urea liquor from our Port Neal and Woodward facilities and as granular urea from the Courtright facility. Production capacities shown are for urea sold in tons.
6. Measured in gallons.
7. The Beaumont manufacturing plant was mothballed in December 2004, and is out of production. The Beaumont plant capacity depends on the product mix (ammonia/methanol).
8. Woodward’s plant capacity depends on the product mix (ammonia/methanol).

 

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9. The Yazoo City facility also produces merchant nitric acid; sales for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 were 53,057 product tons.
10. The Billingham, England facility also produces merchant nitric acid; 2004 sales were 292,117 product tons.
11. The Point Lisas plant capacity represents Terra’s 50% interest.

 

The principal customers for Terra’s North American nitrogen products are national agricultural retail chains, farm cooperatives, independent dealers and industrial customers. Industrial customers use our products to manufacture chemicals and plastics such as acrylonitrile, polyurethanes, fibers, explosives and adhesives. Agricultural customers accounted for approximately 74% and industrial customers approximately 26% of Terra’s North American nitrogen product revenue in 2004 (excluding the plants acquired in the MCC Acquisition). In the U.K., revenues are evenly divided between agricultural and industrial customers.

 

Product


  

% of Total

2004 Terra

Revenues1


   

U.S.

Capacity

Position


   

U.K.

Capacity

Position


 

Ammonia

   25.6 %   2     1  

UAN

   33.6 %   1       *

AN

   11.6 %     *   1  

Urea

   5.0 %   4       *

Methanol

   12.4 %   1       *

1 Revenues from sales of carbon dioxide, nitric acid and other nitrogen products and services, as well as industrial sales in the U.K., represented 11.8% of our total revenues for 2004 (excluding the plants acquired in the MCC Acquisition.).
* Terra does not compete in these markets.

 

During December 2003, Terra entered into contracts with the Methanex Corporation (“Methanex”), providing it exclusive rights to all methanol production at the Beaumont facility for five years. In December 2004, this facility was mothballed. As long as the Beaumont facility remains idle through the December 2008 termination of the Methanex contract, we will continue to realize revenues relating to the facility of up to $16.4 million per year due to $4.4 million from annual amortization of deferred revenues plus one-half of the annual cash margin based on the plant’s methanol production capacity, reference prices and natural gas costs. Terra also entered into an agreement for Methanex to market, under a commission arrangement, all methanol produced at the Woodward facility. For more information on the methanol business, see the discussion under the caption “Methanol Business” below.

 

Nitrogen Business Segment

 

Terra is a leading producer and marketer of nitrogen products, principally fertilizers. We upgrade a significant portion of the ammonia that we produce into other nitrogen products, such as urea, ammonium nitrate (AN) and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN). Ammonia, AN, urea and UAN are the principal nitrogen products we produce and sell in North America. Terra produces and sells primarily ammonia and AN in the U.K. Our Point Lisas production facility in Trinidad provides ammonia for sale into the international nitrogen markets. Other important products that we manufacture include nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide and carbon dioxide. These products, along with a portion of our ammonia and urea production, are used in non-agricultural applications.

 

Although the different nitrogen products are interchangeable to some extent, each has its own characteristics which make one product or another preferable to the end-user. Terra’s plants are designed to provide the products preferred by end-users in the regions in which they are located. These preferences

 

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vary according to the crop planted, soil and weather conditions, regional farming practices, relative prices, and the cost and availability of appropriate storage, handling and application equipment. Terra’s nitrogen products are described in greater detail below.

 

Ammonia

 

Ammonia is the simplest form of nitrogen fertilizer and is the feedstock for the production of other nitrogen fertilizers, including urea, AN and UAN. Ammonia is also widely used in industrial applications. With the MCC Acquisition, Terra is now the leading U.S. producer of ammonia. Ammonia is produced when natural gas reacts with steam and air at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of catalysts. Ammonia has a nitrogen content of 82% by weight and is generally the least expensive form of fertilizer on a per pound of contained nitrogen basis. Although generally the cheapest source of nitrogen available to agricultural customers, ammonia can be less desirable to end-users than UAN or urea because of the need for specialized application equipment and the lack of application flexibility.

 

Urea

 

Terra produces urea for both the fertilizer and animal feed markets by converting ammonia and carbon dioxide into liquid urea, which can be further processed into a solid, granular form. Urea is also used in industrial applications. Granular urea has a nitrogen content of 46% by weight, the highest level of any solid nitrogen product. Terra produces both a granulated form of urea, generally for the fertilizer market, and urea liquor (liquid) for animal feed supplements and industrial applications.

 

Ammonium Nitrate (AN)

 

Terra is the largest manufacturer and marketer of agricultural-grade AN fertilizer in the United States and produces AN at two facilities in the U.K. AN is produced by combining nitric acid and ammonia into a liquid form which is then converted to a solid, largely for fertilizer applications. The nitrogen content of AN is 34% by weight. AN is less subject to volatilization (evaporation) losses than other nitrogen products. Due to its stable nature, AN is the product of choice for such uses as pastures and no-till crops where fertilizer is spread upon the surface and is subject to volatilization losses.

 

Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN)

 

UAN is a liquid fertilizer and, unlike ammonia, is odorless and does not require refrigeration or pressurization for transportation or storage. UAN is produced by combining liquid urea, liquid ammonium nitrate and water. The nitrogen content of UAN ranges from 28% to 32% by weight. Because of its high water content, UAN is relatively expensive to transport, making it largely a regionally distributed product.

 

UAN can be applied to crops directly or mixed with crop protection products, permitting the application of several materials simultaneously, reducing energy and labor costs and accelerating field preparation for planting. In addition, UAN may be applied from ordinary tanks and trucks and can be sprayed or injected into the soil, or applied through irrigation systems. UAN may be applied throughout the growing season, providing significant application flexibility. Due to its stability, UAN may be used for no-till row crops where fertilizer is spread on the surface of the soil but may be subject to evaporation losses.

 

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Manufacturing Facilities

 

Terra’s fertilizer manufacturing facilities, as well as the Point Lisas manufacturing facility in which we own a 50% interest, are designed to operate continuously, except for planned shutdowns (usually biennial) for maintenance and efficiency improvements. Capacity utilization (gross tons produced divided by capacity tons at expected operating rates and on-stream factors) of our nitrogen products manufacturing facilities (excluding 2004 production at the Blytheville, Arkansas plant, which closed in May, 2004, and the plants acquired in the MCC Acquisition) was 99%, 96% and 97% in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Terra owns all of its manufacturing facilities, unless otherwise indicated below. (See “Methanol Business—Manufacturing Facilities” for a description of our Beaumont, Texas facility.) Substantially all of our manufacturing facilities are mortgaged to secure indebtedness under our credit agreements and our notes due in the years 2008 and 2010.

 

The Verdigris, Oklahoma facility is one of the largest UAN production facilities in North America. Located at the Verdigris facility are two ammonia plants, two nitric acid plants, two UAN plants and a port terminal. Terra owns the plants, while the port terminal is leased from the Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority. The leasehold interest on the port terminal was renewed in April 2004, and Terra has an option to renew the lease for an additional five-year term. We also have UAN upgrading capability at our facilities in Port Neal, Iowa; Courtright, Ontario and Woodward, Oklahoma.

 

We believe we have some of the most efficient UAN plants in North America, including three of the five lowest-cost plants in terms of delivered cost to end-users. The location of our Port Neal, Iowa and Courtright, Ontario plants, with low-cost access to nearby Corn Belt markets, allows these plants to be among the most efficient in North America as measured by delivered cost to the end-user. Because of UAN’s relatively high transportation costs due to its water content, there is less competition from importers than for ammonia or urea. Four of our facilities are able to provide UAN locally by truck, which can offer a competitive advantage.

 

In May, 2004, Terra discontinued production at its Blytheville, Arkansas nitrogen products manufacturing facility and prepared to permanently close the production plants. Terra expects to operate the facility’s storage and distribution assets as a terminal for ammonia produced at its Verdigris, Oklahoma facility or obtained from other sources.

 

The Yazoo City, Mississippi facility includes two ammonia plants, five nitric acid plants, an AN plant, two urea plants, a UAN plant and a dinitrogen tetroxide production and storage facility. The Yazoo City facility is under contract through August 2007 as the sole provider of dinitrogen tetroxide for the United States Defense Energy Support Center. The Yazoo City plant and port facility have direct access to barge, rail and truck transportation and the plant is strategically located for the purchase of competitively priced natural gas.

 

The Donaldsonville, Louisiana facility includes two ammonia plants, a urea plant and two melamine crystal production plants. All of these plants, except for one ammonia plant, have been mothballed. No decision has been made regarding the sale or demolition of these plants. The facility has ready access to rail, truck and ammonia pipeline transportation. The plant is also equipped with a deep-water port facility on the Mississippi River, allowing for barge transportation and making Donaldsonville one of the northernmost points on the river capable of receiving economical ocean-going vessels.

 

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The Point Lisas Nitrogen facility, in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is owned by a 50/50 joint venture with KNC Trinidad Limited. This facility has the capacity to produce annually 720,000 tons of ammonia from natural gas supplied under contract with the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. Terra is obligated to buy 50% of the joint venture’s ammonia output at market prices, which is mostly transported to the U.S. Gulf Coast and resold to Terra’s customers. The joint venture’s cost of natural gas has recently been significantly lower than U.S. natural gas costs, which has resulted in the joint venture being substantially more profitable than comparable North American facilities.

 

Marketing and Distribution

 

Terra’s customers are broadly segregated into two groups: (1) North American customers, which include those receiving shipments of imported product from the Point Lisas Nitrogen facility as well as purchases from other foreign producers, and (2) U.K. customers, which includes export sales to continental Europe.

 

The principal customers for Terra’s North American manufactured nitrogen products are independent dealers, national retail chains, cooperatives and industrial customers. Industrial customers accounted for approximately 26% of Terra’s North American nitrogen product revenues in 2004 (excluding the plants acquired in the MCC Acquisition).

 

Terra’s production facilities, combined with significant storage capacity at more than 50 locations throughout the major fertilizer consuming regions of the U.S. and Canada, position Terra to respond competitively to demand in our markets. Terra also owns and operates a storage and distribution terminal in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, one of the northernmost points on the Mississippi River capable of receiving ocean-going nitrogen vessels.

 

Terra’s U.K. sales are divided about equally between agricultural and industrial customers. Terra engages merchants and buying groups to sell its Nitram brand bagged AN fertilizer directly to British farmers. AN is also bagged for other U.K. suppliers and sold in bulk to suppliers who blend it with potash and phosphates, bag it and distribute it to farmers. A small quantity of AN is exported to continental Europe.

 

Terra’s U.K.’s industrial products include ammonia, nitric acid, and liquid carbon dioxide. Most industrial sales are to customers where Terra has a freight advantage.

 

Methanol Business

 

Recent Developments

 

During December 2003, we entered into contracts with Methanex Corporation (“Methanex”) providing it exclusive rights to all methanol production at our Beaumont, Texas facility for five years. Methanex paid $25 million for these rights and agreed to purchase production from us at amounts expected to approximate cash production costs. Methanex also agreed to pay us 50% of any gross profits earned from its sales of Beaumont product up to maximum payments of $12 million per year. Our agreement with Methanex gave Methanex the right to terminate Beaumont production during the term of the agreement, with Terra being responsible for the costs of shutting down the facility.

 

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On December 1, 2004, at the request of Methanex and under the terms of the agreement between the two companies, we ceased production at our Beaumont, Texas methanol manufacturing facility and began the process of mothballing the plant. Our agreement stipulates that, beginning two years from the date of the shutdown, Terra has the option to terminate the agreement by paying Methanex approximately $417,000 per month remaining on the contract. As long as the Beaumont facility remains idle through the December 2008 termination of the Methanex contract, we will continue to realize revenues relating to the facility of up to $16.4 million per year due to $4.4 million from annual amortization of deferred revenues plus one-half of the annual cash margin attributable to idled methanol production based on reference prices and natural gas costs.

 

Approximately 40 Terra employees were terminated after the methanol plant was mothballed. Terra has retained some employees to operate the methanol storage and distribution terminal and potentially to operate the ammonia plant.

 

Manufacturing Facilities

 

Terra owns the plant and processing equipment at the Beaumont facility, which has annual production capacity of 225 million gallons of methanol. The facility also contains an “ammonia loop” which provides an annual production capacity of 255,000 tons of ammonia. The facility’s real estate is leased from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) for a nominal annual rate under a lease agreement which expires in 2090. Because the Beaumont facility is entirely contained within an industrial complex owned and operated by DuPont, Terra depends on DuPont for access to the facility as well as certain essential services.

 

The Woodward, Oklahoma facility produced 33.8 million, 33.8 million and 37.3 million gallons of methanol in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and has an annual methanol production capacity of 40 million gallons.

 

Marketing and Distribution

 

In addition to the Beaumont production agreement, we also entered into an agreement with Methanex to market, under a commission arrangement, all methanol produced at the Woodward, Oklahoma facility. The customers served under these arrangements are primarily large domestic chemical producers.

 

Nitrogen Industry Overview

 

Overview

 

The three major nutrients required for plant growth are phosphorous, mined as phosphate rock; potassium, mined as potash; and nitrogen, produced from natural gas. Phosphorus plays a key role in the photosynthesis process. Potassium is an important regulator of plants’ physiological functions. Nitrogen is an essential element for most organic compounds in plants as it promotes protein formation. Nitrogen is also a major component of chlorophyll, which helps to promote green healthy growth and high yields.

 

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There are no substitutes for nitrogen fertilizers in the cultivation of high-yield crops. These three nutrients occur naturally in the soil to a certain extent but must be replaced as crops remove them from the soil. Nitrogen, to a greater extent than phosphate and potash, must be reapplied each year in areas of intense agricultural usage because of absorption by crops and its tendency to escape from the soil by evaporation or leaching. Consequently, demand for nitrogen fertilizer tends to be more consistent on a year-by-year per-acre-planted basis than is demand for phosphate or potash fertilizer.

 

Demand

 

Global demand for fertilizers typically grows at predictable rates and tends to correspond to growth in grain production. Global fertilizer demand is driven in the long term primarily by population growth, increases in disposable income and associated improvements in diet. Short-term demand depends on world economic growth rates and factors creating temporary imbalances in supply and demand. These factors include weather patterns, the level of world grain stocks relative to consumption, agricultural commodity prices, energy prices, crop mix, fertilizer application rates, farm income and temporary disruptions in fertilizer trade from government intervention, such as changes in the buying patterns of China or India.

 

Supply

 

Increased ammonia prices in 1995 led to capacity expansion projects globally that resulted in capacity growth that was, in the short term, substantially greater than demand, causing a structural imbalance in ammonia supply and demand. In addition, foreign government support for domestic production in India, China and the former Soviet Union has kept uneconomical plants running, further increasing supply.

 

This new global capacity has been partially offset by permanent plant closings in the U.S. and Europe since 1998. Recent increases in natural gas costs in many regions of the world have forced temporary plant closures which, in addition to permanent plant closures, have provided support for nitrogen prices.

 

Imports account for a significant portion of U.S. nitrogen product supply. Producers from the former Soviet Union, Canada, the Middle East, Trinidad and Venezuela are major exporters to the U.S. These export producers are often competitive in regions of close proximity to the point of entry for imports, primarily the Gulf Coast and East Coast of North America. Due to higher freight costs and limited distribution infrastructure, importers are less competitive in serving the main corn-growing regions of the U.S., which are more distant from these ports.

 

Methanol Industry Overview

 

Overview

 

Methanol is a liquid made primarily from natural gas that is used as a feedstock in the production of formaldehyde, acetic acid, MTBE, and a variety of other chemical intermediates which form the foundation of a large number of secondary derivatives. Formaldehyde is used to produce urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are used as wood adhesives for plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board, medium-density fiberboard and other engineered wood products. In addition, formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of elastomers, paints, foams, polyurethane and

 

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automotive products. Acetic acid is used as a chemical intermediate to produce adhesives, paper, paints, plastics, resins, solvents, and textiles. MTBE, an oxygenate and octane enhancer, is used to reduce hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from motor vehicles. Chemical intermediates are used to manufacture de-icer and windshield fluid, antifreeze, herbicides, pesticides, and poultry feed products.

 

Methanol is a typical commodity chemical and the methanol industry is characterized by cycles of oversupply resulting in lower prices and idled capacity, followed by periods of shortage and rapidly rising prices until increased prices justify new plant investments or the re-start of idled capacity. However, the expanding number of different uses for methanol and its derivatives over the last several years has resulted in the methanol industry becoming more complex and subject to increasingly diverse influences on supply and demand.

 

Demand

 

Due to an increasing range of end uses for methanol, demand has tended to move with the general level of economic activity in methanol’s major markets. The significant use of methanol for the production of chemicals used in the building products industry means that building and construction cycles are important factors in determining demand for methanol-based chemicals.

 

MTBE accounts for approximately 22% of global demand for methanol. MTBE is considered the preferred oxygenate by the refining industry and its production had grown rapidly until 2003 when initiatives in California and other states resulted in regulations that prohibit the addition of MTBE to gasoline.

 

Supply

 

Over the past several years significant industry restructuring has taken place with most North American methanol capacity shut down. New methanol production facilities have generally been constructed in locations with access to low-cost natural gas, although this advantage is partially offset by higher distribution costs due to distance from major markets.

 

Credit

 

Our credit terms are generally 15-30 days in the U.S. and 30 days in the U.K., but may be extended for longer periods during certain sales seasons consistent with industry practices.

 

Seasonality and Volatility

 

The fertilizer business is seasonal, based upon the planting, growing and harvesting cycles. Nitrogen fertilizer inventories must be accumulated to permit uninterrupted customer deliveries, and require significant storage capacity. This seasonality generally results in higher fertilizer prices during peak periods, with prices normally reaching their highest point in the spring, decreasing in the summer, and increasing again in the fall as depleted inventories are restored.

 

Nitrogen fertilizer prices can also be volatile as a result of a number of other factors. The most important of these factors are:

 

    Weather patterns and field conditions (particularly during periods of high fertilizer consumption);

 

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    Quantities of fertilizers imported to our primary markets;

 

    Current and projected grain inventories and prices, which are heavily influenced by U.S. exports and worldwide grain markets; and

 

    Price fluctuations in natural gas, the principal raw material used to produce nitrogen fertilizer.

 

Governmental policies may directly or indirectly influence the number of acres planted, the level of grain inventories, the mix of crops planted and crop prices.

 

While most U.S. methanol is sold pursuant to long-term contracts based on market index pricing and fixed volumes, the spot market price of methanol can be volatile. The industry has experienced cycles of oversupply, resulting in depressed prices and idled capacity, followed by periods of shortages and rapidly rising prices. Future demand for methanol will depend in part on the emerging regulatory environment with respect to reformulated gasoline.

 

Raw Materials

 

The principal raw material used to produce manufactured nitrogen products and methanol is natural gas. Natural gas costs in 2004 accounted for approximately 60% of our total costs and expenses (excluding the plants acquired in the MCC Acquisition). We believe there is a sufficient supply of natural gas for the foreseeable future and will, as opportunities present themselves, enter into firm transportation contracts to minimize the risk of interruption or curtailment of natural gas supplies during the peak-demand winter season.

 

As a result of the MCC Acquisition, we now own a 50% interest in Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited, a 50/50 ammonia production joint venture with KNC Trinidad Limited. Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited has a contract to purchase natural gas from the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. The joint venture’s cost of natural gas has recently been significantly lower than U.S. natural gas costs, which has resulted in the joint venture being substantially more profitable than comparable North American facilities.

 

Terra’s natural gas hedging policy is to fix or cap the price of 20% to 80% of our natural gas requirements for a rolling 12-month period, and up to 50% of our natural gas requirements for the subsequent 24-month period, provided that such arrangements would not result in costs greater than expected selling prices for our finished products. The Board of Directors is advised of any departures from this policy. We cap natural gas prices through various supply contracts, financial derivatives and other instruments. A significant portion of the global nitrogen products production occurs at facilities with access to fixed-priced natural gas supplies, such as at our Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited facility. These facilities’ natural gas costs have been and likely will continue to be substantially lower than those of our North American and U.K. facilities.

 

If natural gas prices rise, we may benefit from our use of forward-pricing techniques. Conversely, if natural gas prices fall, we may incur costs above the then-available spot market price. The settlement dates of forward-pricing contracts coincide with gas purchase dates. Forward-pricing contracts are based on a specified price referenced to spot market prices or appropriate NYMEX futures contract prices.

 

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Transportation

 

Terra uses several modes of transportation to distribute products to customers, including railroad cars, common carrier trucks, barges and common carrier pipelines. We use 53 liquid, dry and anhydrous ammonia fertilizer terminal storage facilities in 18 U.S. states and one Canadian province.

 

Railcars are the major mode of transportation at our North American manufacturing facilities. Terra leases approximately 2,100 railcars. Terra also owns 10 nitric acid railcars. In the U.K., Terra’s AN production is transported primarily by contract carrier trucks, and ammonia production is transported primarily by pipelines that we own.

 

Terra transports purchased natural gas to our Woodward, Oklahoma facility via both intrastate and interstate pipelines and to Terra’s Verdigris, Oklahoma facility via intrastate pipeline. The intrastate pipelines serving Woodward and Verdigris are not open-access carriers, but are nonetheless part of a widespread regional system through which Woodward and Verdigris can receive natural gas from any major Oklahoma source. Terra also has limited access to out-of-state natural gas supplies for these facilities. Terra’s Beaumont, Texas facility sources natural gas via four intrastate pipelines. The Courtright, Ontario facility sources natural gas at delivery points at Parkway and Dawn, Ontario and a local utility. We transport purchased natural gas for our Port Neal, Iowa facility via interstate, open-access pipelines. At the Billingham and Severnside, England locations, purchased natural gas is transported to the facilities via a nationwide, open-access pipeline system. Terra’s Donaldsonville facility sources purchased natural gas from two intrastate pipelines. Terra’s Yazoo City facility is served by three interstate pipelines and one intrastate pipeline.

 

FMCL Limited Liability Company, Terra’s 50/50 ammonia shipping joint venture with KNC Trinidad Limited, leases a vessel for the transportation of ammonia. Use of this vessel is shared between the joint venture partners.

 

Research and Development

 

We are currently not undertaking any significant, ongoing research and development efforts.

 

Competition

 

The markets in which Terra operates are highly competitive. Competition in agricultural input markets takes place largely on the basis of price, reliability of supply, delivery time and quality of service. Feedstock availability to production facilities and the cost and efficiency of production, transportation and storage facilities are also important competitive factors. Government intervention in international trade can distort the competitive environment. The relative cost and availability of natural gas are also important competitive factors. Significant determinants of a plant’s competitive position are the natural gas acquisition and transportation contracts negotiated with its major suppliers as well as proximity to natural gas sources and/or end-users.

 

Terra’s domestic competitors in the nitrogen fertilizer markets include a large production cooperative and other independent fertilizer companies. In addition, nitrogen fertilizers imported into the United States compete with domestically produced nitrogen fertilizers, including those produced by Terra. Countries with inexpensive sources of natural gas (whether as a result of government regulation or otherwise) can

 

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produce nitrogen fertilizers at a low cost. A substantial amount of new ammonia capacity is expected to be added abroad in the foreseeable future. Importers of this new supply will face higher transportation costs, which will reduce their advantage of inexpensive natural gas.

 

In the methanol segment, production and trade have become increasingly globalized and a number of foreign competitors produce methanol primarily for the export market. Many of these foreign competitors have access to favorably priced sources of natural gas and are relatively insensitive to raw material price fluctuations. However, because of low domestic demand, foreign competitors aggressively pursue the U.S. and other export markets.

 

Nitrogen sales are made through independent retailers, resellers, farmer co-operatives affiliated dealer organizations and brokers. Terra sells methanol through Methanex as described in the preceding Business Overview section.

 

Environmental and Other Regulatory Matters

 

Terra’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including laws relating to air quality, hazardous and solid wastes and water quality. Terra’s operations in Canada are subject to various federal and provincial regulations regarding such matters, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act administered by Environment Canada, and the Ontario Environmental Protection Act administered by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Terra’s U.K. operations are subject to similar regulations under a variety of acts governing hazardous chemicals, transportation and worker health and safety. Terra’s facilities require operating permits that are subject to review by governmental agencies. We are also involved in the manufacture, handling, transportation, storage and disposal of materials that are or may be classified as hazardous or toxic by federal, state, provincial or other regulatory agencies. We take precautions to reduce the likelihood of accidents involving these materials. If such materials have been or are disposed of at sites that are targeted for investigation and/or remediation by federal or state regulatory agencies, Terra may be responsible under CERCLA or analogous laws for all or part of the costs of such investigation and remediation, and damages to natural resources.

 

The State of Arizona designated Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company (“Inspiration”), a Terra subsidiary that disposed of its assets in 1988 and no longer operates a business, as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) under the state Superfund law at the Pinal Creek Drainage Basin Site (“Pinal Site”) in Globe/Miami, Arizona, based upon Inspiration’s prior ownership and operation of copper mining and production facilities. Under state and federal Superfund laws, all PRPs may be jointly and severally liable for the costs of investigation and/or remediation of an environmentally impaired site regardless of fault or the legality of original disposals. The Pinal Site is the subject of ongoing investigation and cleanup to address releases of acidic metal-bearing solutions from past copper mining and production facilities. The remedial actions are governed by a 1997 consent decree between the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the two current owners/operators of the copper mining and production facilities (one of whom is the successor to Inspiration’s buyer) and Inspiration (collectively with Terra, the “Group”). The Group’s members are jointly and severally financing and performing the work, but Inspiration no longer owns assets at the Pinal Site. Also, the Group has filed an action for cost-recovery against other former owners and operators at the Pinal Site. In a related matter, residents in an area of the Pinal Site brought a class action against the Group seeking property damages and medical monitoring for

 

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potential personal injuries allegedly related to the acidic metal-bearing groundwater. All claims have been settled, although plaintiffs reserved the right to assert personal injury claims individually. After consideration of such factors as the number of PRPs and levels of financial responsibility, including the ongoing litigation, claims against historic insurance carriers, and contractual indemnities, we believe that our liability with respect to these matters will not be material. Existing contractual indemnities may be subject to legal challenge, however, and there can be no guarantee that they will be upheld or sufficient to cover all costs, or that material expenditures will not be incurred for these matters.

 

Terra retained a small number (less than 10%) of its retail locations after the sale of its distribution business in 1999. Some of these locations are now, or are expected in the future to be, the subject of environmental clean-up activities for which we have retained liability. We do not believe that such environmental costs and liabilities will have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or net cash flows.

 

With respect to our Verdigris facility, Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners, Limited Partnership (a former owner and operator of these facilities) retained liability for certain environmental matters. With respect to our Beaumont facility, DuPont retains responsibility for certain environmental costs and liabilities stemming from conditions or operations to the extent such conditions or operations existed or occurred prior to its sale of the facility in 1991. Likewise, with respect to our Billingham and Severnside, England facilities, the seller, ICI, indemnified us, subject to certain conditions, for pre-December 31, 1997 environmental contamination associated with the purchased assets. Known conditions are not expected to result in material expenditures but discovery of unknown conditions or the failure of prior owners and operators and indemnitors to meet their obligations could require significant expenditures.

 

Terra may be required to install additional air and water quality control equipment, such as low nitrous oxide burners, scrubbers, ammonia sensors and continuous emission monitors, at certain facilities in order to maintain compliance with applicable environmental requirements. We estimate that the total cost of additional equipment to comply with these requirements in 2005 and the next two years will be less than $15 million.

 

Terra endeavors to comply in all material respects with applicable environmental, health and safety regulations and has incurred substantial costs in connection with such compliance. Because these regulations are expected to continue to change and generally to be more restrictive than current requirements, the costs of compliance will likely increase. We do not expect our compliance with such regulations to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or net cash flows. However, there can be no guarantee that new regulations will not result in material costs.

 

Terra’s capital expenditures related to environmental control in 2004, 2003 and 2002 were approximately $2.4 million, $1.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively. Projected environmental capital expenditures are $5 million for 2005 and $6.1 million for 2006.

 

Terra believes that its policies and procedures now in effect are in compliance with applicable environmental laws and with the permits relating to the facilities in all material respects. However, in the normal course of its business, Terra is exposed to risks relating to possible releases of hazardous substances into the environment. Such releases could cause substantial damages or injuries. Although environmental expenditures have not been material during the past year, it is impossible to predict or quantify the impact of future environmental liabilities associated with releases of hazardous substances from Terra’s facilities.

 

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Revenues and Assets

 

Terra’s revenues from external customers, measure of profit and loss, total assets and revenues and assets according to geography for the years 2002-2004 is set forth in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Note 23 – Industry Segment Data” contained in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Employees

 

We had 1,323 full-time employees at December 31, 2004, with all 400 U.K. employees covered by a wage and working conditions arrangement similar to a collective bargaining agreement. In the 2005 first quarter, we will terminate the employment of approximately 80 employees who were assigned to acquired MCC locations or our Beaumont facility.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL MATTERS

 

Appeals of a Federal court decision ordering our insurer to pay all of our past and future judgments, settlements and other associated costs arising from a 1998 recall of carbonated beverages containing carbon dioxide tainted with benzene were exhausted in our favor during 2004. Accordingly, we recorded the recovery of product claim costs totaling $17.9 million through the elimination of remaining reserves originally established for these claims and the receipt of additional amounts from the insurer for claims previously paid by us.

 

During 2003, $11.2 million in damages were awarded to a former Terra employee whose distribution and crop consulting business was acquired by Terra in 1997. The plaintiff alleged bad faith and fraud against Terra in connection with the sale of his business to Terra. During 2004, the Arizona Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court decision and the judgment was paid. Terra recorded the charge for the original verdict in its December 31, 2002 financial statements.

 

We are involved in various other legal actions and claims, including environmental matters, arising from the normal course of business. While it is not possible to predict with certainty the final outcome of these proceedings, we do not believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or net cash flows.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of Terra during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

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Executive Officers of Terra

 

The following paragraphs set forth the name, age and offices of each present executive officer of Terra, the period during which each executive officer has served as such and each executive officer’s business experience during the past five years:

 

Name


 

Present positions and offices with the company

and principal occupations during the past five years


Michael L. Bennett   President and Chief Executive Officer of Terra since April 2001; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Terra from February 1997 to April 2001; President and Chief Executive Officer of Terra Nitrogen Division since June 1998. Age 51.
Joe A. Ewing   Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications of Terra since December 2004; Vice President, Human Resources of Mississippi Chemical Corporation from April 2003 to December 2004; Vice President, Marketing and Distribution of Mississippi Chemical Corporation from 1999 to April 2003. Age 54.
Joseph D. Giesler   Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations of Terra since December 2004; Vice President of Industrial Sales and Operations of Terra from December 2002 to December 2004; Global Director, Industrial Sales of Terra from September 2001 to December 2002; Director of Marketing of Terra from June 2000 to August 2001; and Director of Western Division of Terra from July 1998 to May 2000. Age 46.
Mark A. Kalafut   Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Terra since June 2001; Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Terra from April 1997 through June 2001. Age 51.
Francis G. Meyer   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Terra since November 1995. Age 52.
W. Mark Rosenbury   Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Terra since August 1999. Age 57.
Richard S. Sanders Jr.   Vice President, Manufacturing of Terra since August 2003; Plant Manager, Verdigris, Oklahoma manufacturing facility from 1995 to August, 2003. Age 47.
Wynn S. Stevenson   Vice President, Taxes and Corporate Development of Terra since May 1998. Age 50.
Paul Thompson   Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Terra since December 2004; Global Director, Ag Sales and Terra U.K. Managing Director from August 1999 to December 2004. Age 50.

 

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There are no family relationships among the executive officers and directors of Terra or arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and any other person pursuant to which any executive officer was selected as such. Officers of Terra are elected annually to serve until their respective successors are elected and qualified.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR TERRAS COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF SECURITIES

 

The main market in which Terra’s common shares are traded is the NYSE. Set forth below are the high and low sales prices of Terra’s common shares during each quarter specified as reported on the NYSE.

 

(per-share data and stock prices)


   March 31

   June 30

   Sept. 30

   Dec. 31<