Second Quarter Highlights

Net sales were $991.0 million, down 15 percent from second quarter 2008.

Operating earnings totaled $395.2 million, down from $452.1 million in second quarter 2008.

EBITDA totaled $383.7 million compared to $467.8 million in second quarter 2008.

Gross margin was $427.0 million, down 9 percent from $469.9 million in the year-earlier quarter. Nitrogen segment increased by $41.2 million or 11 percent while phosphate segment declined by $84.1 million or 78 percent.

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders were $213.0 million, or $4.33 per diluted share, down from a record $288.6 million, or $5.01 per share, in second quarter 2008.

Net debt (net cash), as calculated in the accompanying table, was $(400.5) million at March 31, 2009 versus $(846.1) million at June 30, 2009, an increase in net cash of $445.6 million during the quarter.

Domestic volumes declined for both nitrogen and phosphate. Total phosphate segment volume rose 48 percent, reflecting record exports and the sale of purchased potash.

Second quarter results included $34.3 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $0.41 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments on natural gas derivatives. The gains compare to $83.2 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $0.92 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments included in second quarter 2008 results.

Second quarter results also included $14.4 million of proposed business combination and Perú project development costs, or $0.17 per diluted share on an after-tax basis. The business combination costs are associated with CF Industries' proposed business combination with Terra Industries as well as costs associated with responding to Agrium Inc.'s tender offer for CF Industries.

Second quarter results also included $5.0 million of inventory write-downs associated with declines in potash selling prices, or $0.06 per diluted share on an after-tax basis.

First Half Highlights

Net sales totaled $1,671.6 million, down 9 percent from $1,828.3 million for first half 2008.

Operating earnings totaled $518.9 million, compared to $703.7 million for first half 2008.

EBITDA totaled $508.5 million, compared to $731.0 million for first half 2008.

Gross margin totaled $589.3 million, down 20 percent, compared to $741.1 million in the first half 2008.

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders totaled $275.7 million, or $5.61 per diluted share, compared to record $447.4 million, or $7.78 per diluted share, for first half 2008.

Net debt (net cash), as calculated in the accompanying table, was $(273.1) million at December 31, 2008 versus $(846.1) million at June 30, 2009, an increase in net cash of $573.0 million in the six-month period.

Domestic volumes declined for both nitrogen and phosphate for the first half of 2009. Total phosphate volume increased by 30 percent, reflecting greater exports and the sale of purchased potash.

First half results included $82.9 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $1.00 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments on natural gas derivatives. The gains compare to $152.8 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $1.70 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments included in first half 2008 results.

First half 2009 results also included $34.4 million of proposed business combination and Perú project development costs, or $0.42 per diluted share on an after-tax basis.

First half 2009 results also included $29.3 million of inventory write-downs associated with declines in potash selling prices, or $0.36 per diluted share on an after-tax basis.

Per share comparisons reflect a reduction of 8.5 million common shares resulting from company's $500 million share repurchase program completed in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Outlook

Positive long-term agricultural fundamentals, coupled with low downstream inventories and moderate farm input costs could -- weather permitting -- lead to a strong fall application season for nitrogen and phosphate.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) today reported second quarter 2009 net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $213.0 million, or $4.33 per diluted share. This represents a 26 percent decrease from the record $288.6 million, or $5.01 per diluted share, the company earned in the second quarter of 2008.

Second quarter results included $34.3 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $0.41 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments on natural gas derivatives. The gains compare to $83.2 million in non-cash, pre-tax unrealized gains, or $0.92 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments included in second quarter 2008 results.

For the quarter, net sales totaled $991.0 million, representing a decrease of 15 percent from second quarter 2008, resulting from reduced nitrogen volumes and significantly lower price realizations in phosphate. The second quarter sales total included $59 million in sales of purchased potash. There were no potash sales in the year-earlier quarter or half.

Gross margin for the quarter was $427.0 million, down 9 percent from $469.9 million in the year-earlier quarter. The company achieved strong performance in nitrogen as the segment's gross margin exceeded the second quarter of 2008 by 11 percent to total $403.2 million.

"I believe our second quarter results confirm CF Industries' ability to react nimbly and profitably to volatile market conditions. Given the challenging spring, these results compare very well to our record performance in last year's second quarter," commented Stephen R. Wilson, chairman and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

"Faced with adverse weather conditions throughout much of the U.S. Midwest, and high inventories at the distributor and retail levels, we moved aggressively to tap export markets for phosphate and nitrogen products," Wilson noted.

During the quarter, CF Industries exported a best-ever 359,000 tons of phosphate to markets primarily in Central and South America.

"We also capitalized on the global competitiveness of our North American nitrogen production, exporting approximately 145,000 tons of granular urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution," the CF Industries executive explained.

The company, Wilson noted, is well positioned to serve international markets, thanks to its partnership with global fertilizer trading company KEYTRADE AG and its ownership of port facilities at both its Donaldsonville Nitrogen Complex in Louisiana and its Florida phosphate operations.

First Half Comparisons

Net sales for first half 2009 totaled $1.67 billion, down 9 percent from $1.83 billion in 2008's first quarter. The decline resulted primarily from lower volumes in nitrogen and substantially lower price realizations in phosphate, offset in part by potash sales.

Gross margin for the first half of 2009 totaled $589.3 million, down 20 percent from $741.1 million in 2008's first half.

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders totaled $275.7 million, or $5.61 per diluted share, compared to a record $447.4 million, or $7.78 per diluted share, in the 2008 first half. First half 2009 net earnings included a non-cash, pre-tax gain of $82.9 million, or $1.00 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments on natural gas derivatives. First half 2008 results included a non-cash, pre-tax gain of $152.8 million, or $1.70 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, from mark-to-market adjustments.

The company's first half 2009 results also included $34.4 million of proposed business combination and Perú project development costs, or $0.42 per diluted share on an after tax basis. The business combination costs are associated with CF Industries' proposed business combination with Terra Industries as well as costs associated with responding to Agrium Inc.'s tender offer for CF Industries.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment

The nitrogen market was characterized by unfavorable spring weather conditions throughout portions of the U.S. Corn Belt which delayed planting, reducing nitrogen application rates and shifting some demand from anhydrous ammonia to urea and UAN.

Further reducing demand at the manufacturer level were high inventories at distributors and retailers -- product that had been, in many instances, purchased before prices fell from their third quarter 2008 peaks. Given challenging spring weather conditions and uncertainty over future price levels, many retailers met farmer demand from existing inventories and held off restocking.

Despite challenging market conditions, CF Industries performed well as nitrogen segment net sales totaled $755.0 million, down 11 percent from $848.6 million in the 2008 second quarter. Volume for the 2009 quarter was 1.9 million tons, down from 2.1 million tons in the year-earlier quarter. The quarter's volume included approximately 145,000 tons of UAN and urea exports.

Gross margin for the nitrogen segment was $403.2 million, up 11 percent from the $362.0 million in the 2008 second quarter, reflecting significantly lower natural gas costs compared to the 2008 second quarter. Gross margin as a percent of sales, including the effect of the segment's mark-to-market gains on derivatives, was 53 percent, up from 43 percent in the year-earlier quarter.

Average nitrogen selling prices were higher than second quarter 2008 levels for ammonia and UAN but down substantially for urea. For ammonia, the average selling price was $696 per ton, up from $513 in the second quarter 2008 and up from $527 in 2009's first quarter. For urea, the average selling price was $295 per ton, down from $417 in the year-earlier quarter and down from $365 in the first quarter 2009. For UAN, the average selling price was $316 per ton, compared with $313 in second quarter 2008 and $298 in first quarter 2009.

"In nitrogen, we benefited from natural gas prices in North America that were significantly lower than those in some other nitrogen-producing regions," said Wilson. "Nitrogen volumes booked earlier under our Forward Pricing Program (FPP) carried higher prices and better margins than those available in the quarter's spot market. Our Donaldsonville, Louisiana complex capitalized on its production flexibility by shifting some output from UAN to urea, which enjoyed better upgrading margins," he added.

CF Industries' nitrogen complexes operated at 91 percent of capacity during the second quarter.

Nitrogen sales under the company's FPP totaled 1.0 million tons during the quarter, representing 51 percent of nitrogen sales volume. In the year-earlier quarter, FPP sales accounted for 72 percent of segment sales.

Phosphate Fertilizer Segment

CF Industries posted a positive gross margin in its phosphate segment during the quarter, despite continued weak domestic demand throughout the supply chain. As in nitrogen, many distributors and retailers, carrying large volumes of high-cost inventory, attempted to hold the line on product pricing, leading to a standoff with farmers before eventually reducing prices. High prices led many farmers to reduce or defer phosphate application.

"In phosphate, we capitalized on our partnership with KEYTRADE to increase exports to a record 359,000 tons during the quarter, up from 85,000 tons in last year's second quarter," Wilson pointed out.

Phosphate segment net sales were $236.0 million, a 24 percent decrease from second quarter 2008 levels. Volume was 674,000 tons, up 48 percent from 456,000 tons in the year-earlier quarter, the result of the increased export sales and 106,000 tons of purchased potash sold during the quarter. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) volume was 469,000 tons during the quarter, up from 379,000 tons in the year-earlier quarter. Monoammonium phosphate (MAP) volume was 99,000 tons, up from 77,000 in the second quarter 2008.

Gross margin in the phosphate segment was $23.8 million, down from $107.9 million in the second quarter 2008, primarily due to significantly lower price realizations. Gross margin percentage was 10 percent of sales, compared to 35 percent in the year-earlier period.

For DAP and MAP, gross margin was $33.0 million, down from $107.9 million in the second quarter 2008. For potash, which is included in phosphate segment results, gross margin was negative $9.2 million, which included a $5.0 million inventory reserve adjustment.

Average selling prices for phosphate products were significantly lower than both first quarter 2009 and fourth quarter 2008 levels. For DAP, the price was $304 per ton, down from both the $696 per ton in the year-earlier quarter and $418 per ton in first quarter 2009. For MAP, the average selling price was $346 per ton, compared to $629 per ton in second quarter 2008 and $466 per ton in 2009's first quarter. Sales of potash commenced this quarter with an average selling price of $558 per ton. The company now has orders for virtually its entire remaining potash inventory of 57,000 tons, with no plans for additional purchases.

The company's Plant City, Florida Phosphate Complex operated at 95 percent of capacity during the second quarter. The complex began 2009's third quarter at a significantly reduced operating rate, reflecting continued soft demand in domestic markets.

Phosphate sales under the company's FPP totaled approximately 61,000 tons during the quarter, representing 9 percent of segment volume, down from 330,000 tons sold or 72 percent of segment volume in the second quarter 2008.

Other Operating Costs

Costs included in the line titled "other operating-net" include proposed business combination costs and project development costs totaling $14.4 million. The business combination costs are associated with CF Industries' proposed combination with Terra Industries Inc. and with the company's response to Agrium Inc.'s proposed acquisition of CF Industries. The project development costs are related to the company's proposed nitrogen complex in Perú. There were no comparable items in the year-earlier quarter.

Liquidity and Financial Position

At June 30, 2009, the company's cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled approximately $921.2 million. In addition, CF Industries held investments in illiquid auction rate securities (ARS) at June 30, 2009 that were valued at $136.6 million, resulting in total cash and investments of more than $1.0 billion. This compares to total investments in cash, cash equivalents, and auction rate securities at December 31, 2008 of $802.8 million.

During the second quarter, $49.2 million of ARS were redeemed by issuers or sold at par. The unrealized holding loss on the remaining ARS declined by approximately $18.3 million in the second quarter due primarily to higher valuations for these securities as the credit spread over treasury yields for these securities declined.

Dividend Payment

On July 21, 2009, the Board of Directors declared the regular quarterly dividend of $0.10 per common share. The dividend will be paid on August 31, 2009 to stockholders of record on August 14, 2009.

Safety Performance

CF Industries experienced no lost-time accidents (LTA) at any of its facilities during the second quarter, continuing its strong companywide safety performance.

During the quarter, the company's Donaldsonville, Louisiana Nitrogen Complex exceeded 3.8 million man-hours without an LTA; its last lost-time accident took place in October of 2002. The company's Hardee County Phosphate Mine and Beneficiation Plant exceeded 1.75 million man-hours without an LTA. Subsequent to quarter end, the Hardee mine experienced one LTA. During the quarter, the Hardee County mine also received the "2008 Excellence in Safety Award" from the International Society of Mine Safety Professionals.

Other Developments

CF Industries continues to make progress on its proposed nitrogen complex in Perú, focusing on detailed engineering, developing a project financing plan, and completing environmental and geo-technical analyses of the proposed site at Marcona. Work continues on finalizing a natural gas contract for the complex. The company incurred $6.3 million in project development costs during the second quarter, and the pace of spending is expected to increase modestly during the third quarter as the complex's Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study moves forward.

During the quarter, CF Industries made progress on efforts to obtain permits for mining an additional nine years of phosphate rock reserves at current operating rates. At the beginning of 2009, CF Industries had 14 years of reserves at current operating rates fully permitted.

During the quarter, the CF Industries Board of Directors elected Stephen A. Furbacher to succeed David R. Harvey as lead independent director. Furbacher joined the board in July of 2007. Harvey remains a director of CF Industries.

Proposed Business Combination

Discussing his company's proposed business combination with Terra Industries (NYSE: TRA), CF Industries' Wilson pointed out, "We believe a combination with Terra will create superior value for CF Industries and Terra stockholders, leveraging the two companies' complementary strategies and strengths and providing a growth platform that would permit the combined company to capitalize on attractive opportunities to serve agricultural and industrial customers in domestic and export markets."

As he noted, the company has made substantial regulatory progress on the proposed transaction. On June 19, it received a standard, unqualified, "no action" letter from the Canadian Competition Bureau confirming that the Commissioner of Competition does not intend to challenge the proposed combination. On Monday, July 6, 2009, CF Industries filed a certification with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it had substantially complied with the FTC's request for additional information (Second Request). The pre-merger waiting period will expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, August 5, 2009.

Commenting on Agrium Inc.'s (TSX: AGU) (NYSE: AGU) offer for CF Industries, Wilson noted, "CF Industries' strong performance relative to its peers underscores our view that Agrium's offer does not reflect the intrinsic earning power of this company. When Agrium's offer was rejected in Mid-May, it was very far from being compelling and, given our performance and industry dynamics, it's even further away from being compelling now."

Outlook

"We've just completed a challenging but very profitable spring planting season. The weather in portions of the Corn Belt wasn't as cooperative as we -- or farmers -- would have preferred, but we still managed to produce strong financial results for our stockholders," CF Industries' Wilson commented.

Just as importantly, he added, CF Industries brought most of its inventories into balance with projected demand going into the fall fertilizer application season.

"Our market information suggests that, at the wholesale and retail levels, dealers have eliminated most if not all of the overhang of high-cost nitrogen and phosphate inventories that created a buyer-seller impasse for much of the spring season," Wilson added.

The company's ammonia inventory was somewhat higher than planned for the end of the spring planting season. However, other product inventories, especially for urea and UAN, were at low but appropriate levels.

Looking ahead, the company noted that the third quarter is typically one in which customers rebuild inventories in anticipation of the fall season. However, restocking has been slow to gain momentum this summer as purchasers -- stung by 2008's high fertilizer prices -- have held off some purchases trying to call a market bottom.

Prices for nitrogen and phosphate have firmed and, for nitrogen, have begun moving upward, which could bring customers back into the market.

"Netbacks for urea and UAN are still relatively unattractive for offshore producers, suggesting that domestic prices have to increase further to attract the imports that the U.S. farmers need," Wilson added.

Raw materials costs for both nitrogen and phosphate production are at very attractive levels compared to last year. For example, the average price of natural gas, used in nitrogen fertilizers, at Henry Hub (Louisiana) declined in the second quarter of 2009 to $3.69/MMBtu from $11.32 /MMBtu in the year-earlier quarter.