Central Florida: Phosphate sellers pointed to lower prices on the Central Florida market last week. Truck-loaded DAP transactions were called $425-$430/st FOB, down from $430/st FOB at last report. MAP was listed at a $20/st premium to DAP.
U.S. Gulf: Sources described a softening NOLA barge market last week.
The looming close of the Upper Mississippi River for the navigational season was reportedly limiting interest in tons physically located at NOLA, where prompt barges were unlikely to reach northern terminals before spring.
Loaded NOLA DAP tumbled from the previous week’s $420/st FOB low to around $415/st FOB by midweek, and then reportedly drifted to as low as $410/st FOB as of Oct. 29. Barges located upriver took a similar trajectory, with early week confirmed netbacks from St. Louis-area DAP barges quoted in a range of $426-$430/st FOB NOLA before sinking closer to $420/st FOB by week’s end, sources claimed.
MAP fared even worse, with some observers reporting difficulties maintaining even a slim premium over DAP. “We’re trying to hold a $5/st premium on barges, but (that) may be a challenge with the length,” one trader said. “(There is) more MAP barge length than DAP, it seems.”
DAP barge supply was described as snug, and no further import vessels were expected anytime soon. “No additional imports at the moment, but we could see some in December,” one source said.
The prompt NOLA barge market was quoted in a wide range of $410-$420/st FOB for the week, down from the last-reported $420-$428/st FOB. MAP was generally quoted around $5/st higher that DAP. Last-done TSP was quoted at $376/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt: DAP remained at $455-$465/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with MAP only $5/st higher or less at most locations. The Cincinnati market was pegged at $458-$460/st FOB for DAP and $460/st FOB for MAP last week.
The 10-34-0 market was unchanged at $510-$530/st FOB in the region.
Agrium’s phosphoric acid postings are slated to firm another $10/st of P2O5 on Nov. 1, with rail-DEL SPA and MGA moving to $1,050/st in Wisconsin and $1,090/st in Michigan.
Western Cornbelt: DAP was unchanged at $455-$465/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with MAP quoted in a broad range at $460-$475/st FOB in the region. One source said the MAP pricing premium has been erased at some river locations as terminals clear room for river-close barges that are on the way.
10-34-0 was steady at $525-$540/st FOB in the region.
Effective Nov. 1, Agrium’s phos acid postings will firm another $10/st of P2O5 from October pricing levels, moving to $1,050/st for rail-DEL SPA and MGA in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Colorado, and $1,065/st rail-DEL in Oklahoma and Texas.
Northern Plains: DAP was reported at $450-$460/st FOB the Twin Cities, with the low end of the range reflecting a $5/st drop from last report. MAP was tagged in a broad range at $460-$495/st FOB in the Northern Plains, with the low reported in the Twin Cities and the upper end out of Hannaford and other North Dakota warehouses.
The 10-34-0 market was pegged at $490-$510/st FOB in the Northern Plains, with the low reported at Grand Forks, N.D., and the upper end in the Twin Cities. North Dakota sources quoted delivered 10-34-0 tons in the $495-$505/st range from Brandon, Man.
Effective Nov. 1, Agrium’s phosphoric acid postings will firm another $10/st of P2O5 from October pricing levels, moving to $1,050/st for rail-DEL SPA and MGA in Minnesota, and $1,065/st rail-DEL in the Dakotas.
Northeast: MAP was steady at $475/st FOB East Liverpool and Fairless, with the DAP marke