History

2015  Another eventful year for Yara, where we made major investments in Europe, Africa, Australia and Latin America. In September 2015, Svein Tore Holsether joined Yara as our new CEO & President.

2016  We entered into an agreement to acquire the Tata Chemicals’ Babrala urea plant and distribution business in India, and decided to invest approximately USD 275 million in our Rio Grande plant in Brazil. 

2008  Yara wins the prestigious Norwegian environmental award “Glassbjørnen” (The Glass Bear) for its nitrous oxide abatement catalyst, which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions across various industries.

2010 Yara increases its engagement in Africa.

2013  Yara celebrates 100 years of presence in the Chinese market.  Acquisition of Bunge Fertilizers, Brazil.

2014  Acquisition of OFD in Latin America and joint venture with Galvani in Brazil strengthens our presence in Latin America.

Yara’s history represents more than 100 years of fighting famine through our fertilizers. Today, the world is still facing serious challenges and Yara is part of the solution.

2004 Yara is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, following demerger from Norsk Hydro.

2005 Yara celebrates 100 years of existence. Yara implements a strategy with the goal of shaping a more sustainable industry.

2007 Acquisition of fertilizer company Kemira-GrowHow in Finland. 

A great deal of money is spent on purchasing plants, but altogether Hydro invests more money in the renewal of existing and the building of new infrastructures. The overall result is that the company becomes the market leader in Western Europe. 

1979  Hydro takes over the Dutch fertilizer company NSM. 

1981 Hydro buys a 75% stake in the Swedish fertilizer group Supra AB. 

1982  A terminal is established in Chiwan, China.

1983 An office is established in Harare, Zimbabwe.

1985 Hydro purchases the German energy company Veba.

1986 Hydro takes over 80% of French fertilizer company Cofaz.

1995 Hydro becomes the only supplier of plant nutrition and agronomic services on all five continents.

2000 Hydro improves its position in Brazil with the acquisition of fertilizer company Adubos Trevo.

Johan B. Holte brings fertilizer production into a new, petrochemical-based era and involves the company in oil exploration in the North Sea. He also starts internationalizing Hydro’s fertilizer production with plants established in Qatar.

1967  Under the leadership of  Johan B. Holte, Hydro sees an organizational revolution, creating a more modern company.

1969 The Qafco joint venture with Qatar Industries is established.

The company sustains considerable damage during the war. However, Hydro’s management is able to once again build up a strong research environment within the company.

The first 10 years after the Second World War mark an incredible time in the history of Yara. The company makes heavy investments, and the number of employees increases from around 2,500 in 1945 to around 5,000 in 1955. 

1945  World War II ends and Hydro decides to expand. 

1946  Two new research sites are established in Oslo and Herøya, Norway.

1947  Hydro takes over power production at Glomfjord, Norway, the world’s northernmost plant.

Protectionism rules the markets during the 1930s, and the Great Depression takes its toll on the company. For Norsk Hydro, this means that the need for diversification is increased. The company, therefore, strives to develop new fertilizer products and technologies for other branches of the industry.

1927-28   The company obtains a license to employ a new ammonia production method, leading to the quadrupling of capacity. 

1938  First production of regular NPK fertilizer.

1939  The Hydro beach is acquired. Employees get a holiday center by the sea, close to Porsgrunn, Norway.

Norsk Hydro is founded in 1905; the industrialization of Norway is at this point well underway. The company is characterized by advanced research, represented in the new logo, along with themes of exploration, innovation and vitality. 

1905  Industrialists Sam Eyde and Kristian Birkeland found Norsk Hydro in Norway.

1907  First Calcium Nitrate shipment to Thailand.

1910  First Viking ship logo is designed.

1913  First cargo of Calcium Nitrate – ‘Norgessalpeter’ - is shipped to Nanjing port, China.

1919  Yara’s first research center is established in Skøyen, a part of Oslo, Norway.