Introduction: The Global Importance of Prilled Ammonium Nitrate
In 2025, global agriculture and mining sectors depend heavily on prilled ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) — a key industrial chemical used both as a high-efficiency nitrogen fertilizer and a powerful oxidizer in explosives. According to recent reports, the global ammonium nitrate market exceeded USD 20 billion in 2024, with demand expected to grow to USD 31 billion by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights, 2025).
In this vital global industry, San Corporation, founded in 2002, has become China’s largest ammonium nitrate exporting enterprise. The company is among the few enterprises officially approved by the National Defense Department for exporting dangerous goods, marking it as a world-class supplier trusted for quality, scale, and reliability.
What Is Prilled Ammonium Nitrate?
Prilled ammonium nitrate refers to ammonium nitrate that has been melted, sprayed, and solidified into small spherical granules (prills). These prills can be high-density (for fertilizer use) or low-density / porous (for explosives like ANFO — Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil).
This granular form improves handling, storage, and application efficiency, making it the most convenient form for global transport and large-scale industrial use. If you want to know more about the uses and characteristics of prilled ammonium nitrate, you can read this article.
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Main Uses of Prilled Ammonium Nitrate
1. Agriculture: The Core Nitrogen Fertilizer
Ammonium nitrate is one of the most efficient nitrogen fertilizers in the world, offering both ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) nitrogen — giving plants fast and sustained nutrient availability.
Market Data:
| Year | Global Market Size (USD Billion) | Fertilizer Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19.1 | 58% | Custom Market Insights |
| 2024 | 20.68 | 60% | Fortune Business Insights |
| 2032 (Forecast) | 31.04 | 59% | Fortune Business Insights |
Farmers and distributors prefer prilled ammonium nitrate because of:
High nutrient concentration (33–34% N)
Quick solubility and soil uptake
Stable prill structure for uniform field spreading
San Corporation’s Advantage in Agricultural Grade Ammonium Nitrate
San Corporation’s high-density prilled ammonium nitrate is produced using patented European technologies (from Germany, France, and Norway). The prills exhibit:
Low moisture ≤ 0.05% — prevents caking and clumping.
High crushing strength — improves flowability during transportation.
Consistent size and density — ensures even nutrient application.
This precision production helps farmers achieve better nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and maximize crop yield per hectare.
2. Mining and Quarrying: The Power Behind Modern Excavation
In the mining sector, porous prilled ammonium nitrate (PPAN) is the backbone of ANFO explosives. A standard ANFO mixture contains 94% PPAN and 6% fuel oil, producing controlled, powerful blasts for ore extraction and construction.
Technical Performance:
| Property | Industrial Requirement | San Corporation’s PPAN |
|---|---|---|
| Water Content | ≤ 0.2% | ≤ 0.05% |
| Oil Absorption | 10–12% | 12–14% |
| Detonation Velocity | ≥ 3,000 m/s | > 3,200 m/s |
| Caking Resistance | Moderate | Excellent |
| Crushing Strength | Standard | High-Strength Design |
By adopting France’s KT Company technology, San Corporation manufactures PPAN that provides superior performance and safety, making it ideal for mining companies, construction blasting contractors, and defense buyers worldwide.
Global Explosives Market Snapshot
| Application | Market Share (2025) | Growth Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Mining & Quarrying | 31.5% | Infrastructure & Resource Extraction |
| Construction | 18.7% | Urban Expansion Projects |
| Defense & Pyrotechnics | 7.3% | Military Use |
| Others | 42.5% | Fertilizer & Chemical Uses |
(Source: Coherent Market Insights 2025)
San Corporation’s PPAN meets the highest international explosive-grade specifications, ensuring powerful, stable detonation with optimal oil absorption.
3. Specialty and Industrial Uses
Besides agriculture and mining, prilled ammonium nitrate is also used in:
Cold packs (endothermic reaction for instant cooling)
Laboratory reagents
Gas and specialty chemical production
San Corporation’s chemical-pure ammonium nitrate and calcium ammonium nitrate grades serve global chemical industries with exceptional purity and cost-effectiveness.
Why Choose San Corporation as Your Ammonium Nitrate Supplier
1. Unmatched Scale and Capacity
Annual production capacity: ~1.2 million tons
Export volume: Over 80,000 tons annually
Largest ammonium nitrate base in China
San Corporation has built a production infrastructure that integrates research, production, storage, logistics, and global export. The company’s advanced facilities and continuous investment in R&D have allowed it to stay ahead of market and regulatory demands.
2. Advanced Global Technology Integration
San Corporation’s manufacturing lines incorporate patented technologies from eight countries, including:
Germany, France, Japan, Norway
This ensures:
Consistent prill size and porosity
Energy-efficient production
Environmentally compliant operations
3. Core Competitive Advantages
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Low Moisture Content | ≤ 0.05% (industry standard 0.2%) — enhances storage stability |
| High Oil Absorption | 12–14% — ensures optimal ANFO performance |
| Excellent Anti-Caking | Maintains flowability and easy handling |
| High Crushing Strength | Reduces breakage and product loss |
| Quality Certifications | Approved exporter of dangerous goods; meets global standards |
| Wide Product Range | PPAN, CPAN, Urea, CAN, CN, UAN Solution |
| Strong Export Network | Long-term partnerships in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America |
Product Portfolio at a Glance
| Product | Description | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Porous Prilled Ammonium Nitrate (PPAN) | Low-density, high-porosity prills with KT Technology | Mining, quarrying, ANFO, defense |
| Chemical Pure Ammonium Nitrate (CPAN) | High-purity crystalline grade | Chemicals, fertilizers |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solution (UAN) | New R&D product, 300–400 kt annual output | Liquid fertilizers |
| Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) | Enhanced nutrient efficiency | Fertilizer blend use |
| Calcium Nitrate (CN) | Fast-acting Ca + N nutrient source | Horticulture, hydroponics |
| Urea | Granular nitrogen fertilizer (46% N) | Global agriculture |
San Corporation is the first enterprise in China to produce Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solution (UAN), representing the company’s continuous innovation in nitrogen fertilizers.
Global Cooperation and Market Presence
San Corporation’s ammonium nitrate products are exported worldwide to:
Europe (Germany, Poland, Ukraine)
Asia (Indonesia, India, Thailand)
Africa (Nigeria, South Africa)
South America (Chile, Brazil)
The company actively participates in the Canton Fair and other international exhibitions, expanding its partnerships with global distributors, military buyers, and government procurement agencies.
Procurement Policy:
Due to large-scale production capacity and export volume, San Corporation does not accept small retail orders. The company focuses exclusively on bulk purchases, offering:
The highest product quality
The lowest possible factory price
The most secure international logistics and after-sales service
Quality Assurance and Compliance
San Corporation maintains strict ISO certified production systems and national safety approvals.
Each batch of prilled ammonium nitrate undergoes testing for:
Moisture content
Particle size uniformity
Porosity and density
Detonation performance (for PPAN)
The company’s export of dangerous goods is authorized by the National Defense Department of China, ensuring complete compliance with international regulations for storage, handling, and transport.
Future Development Strategy
Guided by the philosophy “Technology builds enterprises, steady operation prospers them,” San Corporation continues to:
Optimize industrial structure for higher efficiency.
Invest in R&D to develop safer, cleaner ammonium nitrate formulations.
Expand global partnerships for fertilizer and mining supply chains.
Leverage capital and technology to achieve sustainable long-term growth.
By integrating innovation and reliability, San Corporation is shaping the future of the global ammonium nitrate industry.
Conclusion
Prilled ammonium nitrate remains indispensable to modern agriculture and mining — fueling both food security and infrastructure development. But behind its widespread use stands the need for safe, high-quality, and efficiently produced materials.
With over two decades of industry leadership, San Corporation is China’s largest ammonium nitrate exporter and a trusted global partner. Whether you require Porous Prilled Ammonium Nitrate (PPAN) for blasting, or High-Density Prilled Ammonium Nitrate for fertilizer production, San Corporation delivers unmatched quality, reliability, and scale.
