U.S. Gulf:
The ammonium sulfate barge market was noted pressing higher for the week, with sources quoting values in the $255-$265/st FOB range, up from the week-ago $253.50-$265/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $280-$315/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low reported for limited import offers and reflecting a $10/st increase from last week. Sources reported very tight supply in Cincinnati, with the Burns Harbor market pegged firmly at the $305/st FOB level at midweek.
AdvanSix announced another ammonium sulfate price increase on April 14, with postings firming $20/st in the region. New prices include granular at $315/st FOB Granite City, Ill., and mid-grade at $280/st FOB Byron, Ill., and $290/st rail-DEL in Illinois.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate firmed to $270-$275/st FOB St. Louis and $300-$310/st FOB in the Iowa market. Postings from AdvanSix moved up $20/st on April 14, with granular ammonium sulfate firming to $335/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, and mid-grade moving to $290/st rail-DEL in Iowa.
Northern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate was quoted at a firm $300-$310/st FOB St. Paul, up from a recent low of $265/st FOB, with delivered tons ranging from $295-$325/st in North Dakota, depending on location and rail versus truck offers.
AdvanSix on April 14 raised its granular ammonium sulfate postings by $20/st, to $320/st FOB Winona, Minn., and $325/st FOB Brooten, Minn. The company’s mid-grade postings also firmed $20/st on that date, to $290/st rail-DEL in Minnesota.
Great Lakes:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $305-$325/st FOB in the region, up another $15-$25/st from last report. New postings from AdvanSix on April 14 included granular at $320/st FOB Prairie du Chien, Wisc., and $325/st FOB Amherst Junction, Wisc., with mid-grade firming to $290/st rail-DEL in Wisconsin.
Northeast:
AdvanSix raised its ammonium sulfate prices FOB Hopewell, Va., by $10/st on April 14, to $285/st for granular, $265/st for mid-grade, and $245/st for standard. Granular pricing in the Northeast region was pegged at $310/st FOB East Liverpool, Ohio, and $315-$330/st DEL.
China:
Sources said the price for caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate has come off a few dollars to $150-$155/mt FOB. A sale to Malaysia at $190/mt CFR helped set the basis for this price shift.
Supply remains an issue for most grades other than caprolactam. Source said the capro-grade material is still preferred by the NPK producers as a source of nitrogen. However, falling urea prices are forcing ammonium sulfate sellers to also lower their prices or abandon the sales.
Brazil:
The landed price of granular ammonium sulfate slid a few dollars to $200-$210/mt CFR in Paranagua. Sources said a continued slide is expected. Not only is there a slight surplus at the ports, but more material is expected in, putting additional pressure on pricing.
While the portside price is under pressure, sources said inland prices are moving up. Rondonopolis prices were quoted at $350-$355/mt FOB ex-warehouse, showing a marked increase from last week. Sources reported a lack of tons in many inland distribution centers, which could account for the rising inland prices while the ports are showing lower levels.