U.S. Gulf:
New potash barge trades were put in the $315-$320/st FOB range, down slightly from the week-ago $315-$323/st FOB. In general, there were more bears than bulls in the market, with some players expecting the next round of trades to be in the $310-$315/st FOB range.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Potash remained at $355-$375/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location and time of shipment, with the Cincinnati markets reported at the $360-$365/st FOB level at mid-month.
Western Cornbelt:
The potash market remained at $355-$375/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the bulk of river terminals pegged at the $355-$365/st FOB level at mid-month. Sources quoted the St. Louis market at $360-$365/st FOB in mid-March.
California:
Potash prices in California remained at the $455/st FOB level for 60 percent MOP and $465/st FOB for 62 percent.
Pacific Northwest:
Potash remained at $420-$430/st FOB and $425-$435/st rail-DEL in the Pacific Northwest, depending on grade and location. Potash postings from Intrepid FOB Moab and Wendover, Utah, were steady at $425/st FOB for 60 percent white standard and $430/st FOB for 60 percent white granular.
Western Canada:
Although new sales were few, sources said potash pricing had edged up to C$530-$540/mt FOB Saskatchewan mines for Q2 truck offers, up from earlier Q1 offers at the C$480/mt FOB level. “Potash has been slow as most customers bought earlier,” said one source.
Northwest Europe:
Granular prices have moved up amid firming demand as the spring season gets underway. Current price levels were heard in the €250-€255/mt CIF Northwest Europe range.
Brazil:
The MOP price range in Brazil is tightening, with a slight downward movement to $310-$325/mt CFR at Paranagua.The dip this week, however, does not mean supplies are plentiful or that a downward trend is expected to last. June and July quotes are coming in at $325-$330/mt CFR.
Rondonopolis is showing a wider range than in previous weeks, at $370-$433/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Even with the expansion of the range, sellers are still not able to nail down the higher prices they want, nor are buyers able to get the lower prices they want.
The barter rate for 1 mt of MOP was put at 54 bags of corn or 21 bags of soybeans.