Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers

What Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers does

Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers (WesCEF) is the diversified chemicals, energy and fertilisers division of ASX-listed Wesfarmers Limited, headquartered in Perth, Western Australia with approximately 1,400 employees nationally and operations spanning domestic, national and international markets. WesCEF operates across four core business groupings: CSBP (industrial chemicals including ammonia, ammonium nitrate and other chemicals plus CSBP Fertilisers with 150+ products serving WA growers), Kleenheat (WA-born natural gas retailer for households and businesses across metropolitan Perth and Geraldton to Bunbury), Australian Gold Reagents (AGR, a 75/25 JV with Coogee producing sodium cyanide solution and solids for gold mining), and the Covalent Lithium 50:50 JV with Chile's SQM (Mt Holland mine and concentrator plus Kwinana refinery targeting battery-grade lithium hydroxide for global EV markets). Manufacturing is concentrated at the Kwinana industrial hub, which has been operational for over 80 years and supports co-located production across CSBP, AGR, Kleenheat's KPF, and Covalent Lithium, supplemented by wholly-owned ancillary businesses Australian Vinyls and ModWood.

The revenue model is transaction-fee B2B across chemicals, fertilisers and gas products, with some B2C retail exposure via Kleenheat natural gas. Customer segments are diversified across gold mining (domestic and international, including export of sodium cyanide solids to Asia, Africa, Americas and the Middle East), Western Australian agriculture, industrial chemicals customers, EV battery manufacturers (via Covalent Lithium hydroxide), and remote mining customers (historically via EVOL LNG). Go-to-market is enterprise sales-led with dedicated account managers, regional fertiliser despatch operations, direct sales for mining/industrial customers, and retail storefront distribution for Kleenheat. Following divestitures of LPG distribution to Supagas (September 2024) and LNG distribution (EVOL LNG) to Clean Energy Fuels Australia (November 2024), WesCEF retained Kleenheat natural gas retail and production. Underlying production technologies include proprietary advanced analytics dashboards for ammonia shipping, sodium cyanide and nitric acid optimisation, tertiary abatement catalysts targeting 98% nitrous oxide reduction in NAAN plants, low-emission incinerators at the AGR SCN plant (targeting 86% N2O reduction), and licensed CCS storage via the Cygnus CCS Hub. AI capability (Ship Guru, Khloe Chatbot, Oracle ERP integration, Azure OpenAI/GitHub Copilot experimentation) currently augments rather than differentiates the core industrial business.

In FY2023 WesCEF reported revenue of $3.306 billion AUD (up 8.7% YoY) and record EBT of $669 million (up 23.9%), driven by favourable global ammonia prices and strong plant performance. H1 2026 EBT of $209 million was up 18.1% year-on-year and included first positive lithium earnings of $6 million. Key growth platforms are the AGR SCN expansion (over 30% capacity increase, first production FY2026), Covalent Lithium ramp toward 50,000 tonnes/year battery-grade hydroxide, and a multi-stage decarbonisation roadmap targeting 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (versus 2020 baseline) supported by approximately $51.4M in cumulative government grants across the Powering the Regions Fund and WA CCUS Action Plan.

Name

Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers

Legal name

Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers Limited

Website

https://wescef.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WesCEF is the diversified chemicals, energy and fertilisers division of Wesfarmers Limited, operating CSBP (industrial chemicals and fertilisers), Kleenheat (WA natural gas retail), Australian Gold Reagents (sodium cyanide), and the Covalent Lithium JV with SQM (battery-grade lithium), serving mining, agriculture, industrial and EV battery customers from its integrated Kwinana industrial hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Chemicals & Fertilisers

NAICS

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Natural Gas Distribution (4924), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia/Urea/UAN) (IMAEAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Ammonium Nitrate/Sulfate) (AFABABAA), NPK & Compound/Blended Fertilizers (IMAEAEAD)

Keywords

• Industrial chemicals manufacturing
• Fertiliser production
• Sodium cyanide supply
• Lithium hydroxide production
• Natural gas retailing

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Chemicals and Industrial Products: Revenue from manufacture and sale of industrial chemicals including ammonia, ammonium nitrate, sodium cyanide, and other chemical products. Driven by favourable global ammonia prices and strong plant performance. Includes CSBP's chemicals business, Australian Gold Reagents (75% JV with Coogee), and Australian Vinyls.
2. Fertilisers: Revenue from CSBP Fertilisers including superphosphate and specialty fertilisers (150+ products) sold to Western Australian growers. Subject to seasonal demand patterns and declining SSP demand.
3. Natural Gas and LPG Retailing: Kleenheat retails natural gas to households and businesses across metropolitan Perth and Geraldton to Bunbury. LPG distribution sold to Supagas (Sep 2024) and LNG distribution (EVOL LNG brand) sold to CEFA (Nov 2024). Kleenheat's natural gas retailing and LPG/LNG production facility retained.
4. Lithium (Covalent Joint Venture): Covalent Lithium (50:50 JV with SQM) producing spodumene concentrate at Mt Holland and battery-grade lithium hydroxide at Kwinana refinery for global EV market. Mt Holland mine life approximately 50 years. First positive lithium earnings of $6 million reported in H1 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WesCEF manufactures and supplies industrial chemicals (ammonia, ammonium nitrate, sodium cyanide, PVC/vinyls) through CSBP and Australian Gold Reagents, produces over 150 fertiliser products for Western Australian growers via CSBP Fertilisers, and produces battery-grade lithium hydroxide through the Covalent Lithium joint venture with SQM. Through Kleenheat, WesCEF also retails natural gas to WA households and businesses. Output is sold direct to enterprise customers in mining, agriculture and EV battery markets plus via Kleenheat's retail energy network.

Product overview

Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers (WesCEF) operates as a diversified industrial chemicals, energy, and fertilisers division within the Wesfarmers conglomerate. The portfolio comprises multiple distinct businesses: CSBP handles ammonia and ammonium nitrate production; CSBP Fertilisers provides agricultural fertilisers to WA growers; Kleenheat retails gas including LPG and natural gas to residential and industrial customers; Australian Gold Reagents (AGR) produces sodium cyanide for gold mining; Australian Vinyls and ModWood serve vinyls and composite wood markets. The division also holds a 50% interest in Covalent Lithium joint venture with SQM for battery-grade lithium hydroxide production. In early 2024, WesCEF divested its LPG and LNG distribution businesses, retaining Kleenheat's natural gas retailing and production facilities. The businesses operate from manufacturing facilities in Kwinana, Western Australia, with operations spanning domestic, national and international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSBP: Chemicals and fertilisers business producing ammonia, ammonium nitrate, industrial chemicals, and fertilisers
• Kleenheat
• Australian Gold Reagents (AGR)
• Australian Vinyls
• ModWood
• EVOL LNG

Products and services

• CSBP Industrial Chemicals CSBP manufactures and supplies industrial chemicals including ammonia, ammonium nitrate, nitric acid and vinyls, operating production facilities in Kwinana, Western Australia and serving mining, industrial and agricultural customers. Also produces specialty fertilisers.
• CSBP Fertilisers CSBP Fertilisers is an agricultural fertiliser business providing WA growers with more than 150 fertiliser products and agronomic advice to support diverse crop nutritional requirements.
• Kleenheat Natural Gas Retailing Kleenheat is WA's born and bred natural gas retailer providing natural gas (and historically LPG) to residential, business and industrial customers across metropolitan and regional Western Australia (metropolitan Perth and Geraldton to Bunbury).
• Australian Gold Reagents (AGR) Sodium Cyanide AGR (75% CSBP / 25% Coogee JV) produces sodium cyanide solution and solids for gold mining. With the ongoing expansion, capacity is moving from 94,000 to 130,000 tonnes/year for liquids and from 46,000 to 60,000 tonnes/year for solids, supplying Australian and international gold mining operations across Asia, Africa, Americas and the Middle East.
• Australian Vinyls Australian Vinyls operates as part of the WesCEF portfolio producing PVC/vinyl products.
• ModWood Composite Decking ModWood produces composite wood products including sustainable decking and screening solutions for residential and commercial applications.
• Covalent Lithium (Mt Holland Mine and Concentrator) Covalent Lithium (50:50 JV between Wesfarmers and SQM) produces spodumene concentrate at the Mt Holland mine and concentrator (400km east of Perth, ~50-year mine life) feeding the Kwinana refinery for battery-grade lithium hydroxide aimed at the global EV battery market.
• Covalent Lithium Kwinana Refinery The Covalent Lithium refinery in Kwinana refines spodumene concentrate into battery-grade lithium hydroxide (50,000 tonnes/year capacity) for global electric vehicle battery manufacturers.
• AGR Sodium Cyanide Plant Expansion Project Major plant expansion project for the Australian Gold Reagents (AGR) sodium cyanide business in Kwinana, increasing both capacity and emissions performance to position AGR as one of the world's largest sodium cyanide producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions targeted from NAAN plants before 2028
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AccentureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 June 2026Accenture partnered with Faculty, WesCEF and WA Government on the Faculty Fellowship AI training program for 25 STEM graduates from WA universities.
• Western Australian GovernmentcoreOthers · 25 June 2026Cook Labor Government partnered with Faculty, Accenture and WesCEF to launch Australia's first Faculty Fellowship program. Government providing public-private partnership framework for AI and data science training.
• Curtin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2024CSBP has a long-standing relationship with Curtin University. Supported Student Awards for 5 years. CSBP Senior Account Manager Miles Ellery won Most Outstanding Full Time Honours Student in Agriculture award from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences.
• APA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2024WesCEF partnered with APA Group on the Parmelia Green Hydrogen Project feasibility study, funded by ARENA. The 12-month study explored green hydrogen production via electrolysis using renewable electricity, with APA assessing conversion of the Parmelia Gas Pipeline (PGP) to transport hydrogen to WesCEF's Kwinana Ammonia plant - a first in Australia if achieved.
• Mitsui E&P AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2024WesCEF's Cygnus CCS Hub project with Mitsui E&P Australia received $11M from WA Government's inaugural CCUS Action Plan. The hub will store CO2 from WesCEF's CSBP Ammonia plant and Mitsui's Waitsia Gas Plant in depleted Mid West gas reservoirs. Proven technology with initial testing results encouraging.
• SupagasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 May 2024WesCEF sold its LPG distribution business to Supagas (third-largest LPG supplier in Australia) for completion September 2024. Supagas acquiring Kleenheat's LPG distribution network across metropolitan and regional WA and NT. WesCEF's KPF facility to remain and wholesale LPG to Supagas.
• Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 May 2024WesCEF sold its LNG distribution business (EVOL LNG brand) to CEFA for completion November 2024. CEFA headquartered in WA, focused on reducing carbon emissions through sustainable fuel solutions for remote mines and industrial applications. LNG supply contract to continue from WesCEF's KPF.
• Australian Government (Powering the Regions Fund)coreOthers · 24 April 2024$32.9M Commonwealth grant through Powering the Regions Fund for tertiary abatement catalysts in two older NAAN plants at CSBP Kwinana. Will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64,000 tonnes CO2e per year. Additional $500,000 from WA State Government for pilot in third NAAN plant.
• University of Western Australia (UWA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 September 2023WesCEF co-hosted with UWA's Venture Innovation Centre and Coders for Causes student club for a 5-day Generative AI hackathon. 60 students in 11 groups solved business problems from WesCEF businesses including CSBP Fertilisers, Kleenheat, and Covalent.
• Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovalent Lithium is a 50:50 joint venture between Wesfarmers and SQM. SQM is a leading global lithium producer. The JV operates Mt Holland lithium mine and concentrator (400km east of Perth) and Kwinana refinery for battery-grade lithium hydroxide for global EV market.
• Australian Government (Powering the Regions Fund)coreOthers$7.5M grant for low-emission waste gas incinerator at AGR sodium cyanide plant. Installation expected 2027. Part of broader $32.9M grant for tertiary abatement catalysts in CSBP NAAN plants.
• Coogee (25% JV partner in Australian Gold Reagents)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Gold Reagents (AGR) is a 75% owned by CSBP (WesCEF) and 25% owned by Coogee. AGR operates sodium cyanide production facility at Kwinana, expanding to become one of world's largest sodium cyanide producers.
• Clontarf FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing community partnership with The Clontarf Foundation supporting a wide range of local activities and initiatives that support Aboriginal people.
• Moordjit KoortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing community partnership with Moordjit Koort supporting Aboriginal engagement activities and initiatives in the Kwinana area.

Scale indicators26 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nutrien: Nutrien is the world's largest crop inputs provider, producing nitrogen, phosphate, and potash fertilisers. It is broadly comparable to CSBP Fertilisers' product portfolio and customer base (commercial growers), but at materially larger global scale.
• Yara International: Yara is the world's largest nitrogen fertiliser producer, providing direct comparability on ammonia, urea, UAN, and compound fertilisers produced by CSBP, but at a much larger global scale and with a broader geographic footprint.
• Albemarle Corporation: Albemarle is one of the world's largest lithium producers and a global specialty chemicals company, providing a benchmark for Covalent Lithium's lithium hydroxide strategy and for WesCEF's specialty chemicals positioning.
• CF Industries: CF Industries is a leading global nitrogen fertiliser and ammonium products manufacturer, closely comparable on ammonia and ammonium nitrate economics with CSBP, though operating primarily in North America and at significantly larger scale.
• Arcadium Lithium: Arcadium Lithium (the merged Allkem-Livent entity) is a global integrated lithium chemicals producer with hydroxide production capacity directly comparable to Covalent Lithium's Kwinana refinery, though with diversified asset geographies (Argentina, Australia, Canada).

Direct peers

• AGL Energy: AGL is one of Australia's largest energy retailers, competing directly with Kleenheat in WA household and SME gas and electricity supply and providing a benchmark for Kleenheat's natural gas retailing economics and customer-acquisition model.
• Incitec Pivot: Incitec Pivot is a major Australian manufacturer of fertilisers, ammonia, and ammonium nitrate (via Dyno Nobel), competing head-on with CSBP's chemicals and fertilisers businesses and serving overlapping agriculture and mining customers in Australia.
• Orica: Orica is Australia's largest industrial chemicals and blasting explosives manufacturer, producing ammonium nitrate and sodium cyanide — directly overlapping with WesCEF's CSBP chemicals and AGR sodium cyanide businesses. It is the closest comparable for CSBP's industrial chemicals and mining reagents portfolio.
• Pilbara Minerals: Pilbara Minerals is an Australian lithium producer and a natural peer to WesCEF's Covalent Lithium JV on upstream spodumene concentrate, serving the same global EV battery customers from Western Australia.

Regional players

• The Mosaic Company: Mosaic is a major global phosphate and potash fertiliser producer with significant presence in the Americas. It is comparable to CSBP Fertilisers' phosphate-based product lines (superphosphate, DAP/MAP) but operates in a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wesfarmers-chemical-energy-and-fertilisers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers