U.S. Gulf: New potash barge trades were put in the $333-$340/st FOB range, with some pounding the market for still lower numbers. They argued that new trades into Brazil at $320/mt CFR could easily mean sub-$300/st FOB for NOLA barges.
U.S. MOP imports were up 5 percent for July-September, to 2.31 million st from 2.2 million st. Most of that increase was from Canada, with those numbers up at 2.1 million st from 1.94 million st. Imports were also up from Israel at 58,748 st versus 34,678 st. Imports from Russia were actually off, however, at 129,909 st from 206,593 st.
Eastern Cornbelt: Potash pricing continued to slip in the Eastern Cornbelt. Sources quoted the dealer market at $375/st FOB Cincinnati on the low end for red granular tons, while the upper end of the regional range was reported at $387/st FOB Maumee for white granular potash.
Western Cornbelt: Potash pricing in the Western Cornbelt remained flat at $370-$385/st FOB regional warehouses, depending on grade and location.
Northern Plains: Potash pricing had reportedly slipped to $375-$385/st DEL in the Northern Plains, depending on location, with the low end of that range also quoted on an FOB basis for red granular tons.
The potash market to U.S. customers FOB Saskatchewan mines remained at $355/st for standard grade, $360/st for granular, and $367/st for soluble and white granular.
Great Lakes: Potash pricing in the Great Lakes region was down some $5/st from last report, with the regional market quoted at $380-$387/st FOB. The low was quoted for red granular potash in both Wisconsin and Michigan, while the upper end was reported for white granular tons on a spot basis.
Northeast: Potash was quoted at $380-$385/st FOB in the Northeast, with rail-delivered tons reported in the $380-$390/st range, down roughly $10/st from last report.