U.S. Gulf:
Ammonium sulfate barges continued to be called $255-$265/st FOB, with domestic producers seeking $275/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market remained at $280-$315/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location, with the upper end reflecting the posted price from AdvanSix at Granite City, Ill. The market FOB Ottawa and Burns Harbor remained at the $305/st FOB level.
“Inventories at a few terminals are very thin and resupply is going to get dicey,” said one industry source. Mid-grade ammonium sulfate pricing from AdvanSix as of April 14 included $280/st FOB Byron, Ill., and $290/st rail-DEL in Illinois.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $270-$310/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis. Sources pegged the Caruthersville market at a firm $280/st FOB in late April. Postings from AdvanSix on April 14 included mid-grade at $290/st rail-DEL in Iowa.
In the Northern Plains, sources quoted the granular ammonium sulfate market at $300-$310/st FOB St. Paul, Minn., and $330-$335/st FOB Sioux City.
Southern Plains:
The ammonium sulfate market reportedly strengthened to $275-$290/st FOB in the Southern Plains, up $20-$25/st from last report, with the low reported at Houston and the high at Catoosa/Inola.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate was reported at $270-$280 FOB terminals in the South Central region, up another $5/st from the previous week and a full $20-$30/st higher than late-March levels. The lower end of the range was confirmed at Memphis and the high FOB Shreveport and out of most Arkansas terminals.
Southeast:
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. Tons in the Florida market were reported at $325/st for granular and $275/st for standard as the week progressed, up roughly $20/st from last report.
China:
The price for caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate continues to fluctuate within a narrow range. Sources said the current price of $155-$160/mt FOB reflects more the changes in currency rates and vessel availability than any change in supply or demand. One trader noted that while the Chinese price has moved up and down lately, the landed price in Asia has remained relatively stable around $190/mt CFR.
Exports for the first quarter were reported at 2.2 million mt, according to Trade Data Monitor, up 25 percent from 1.7 million mt during the same period in 2020. Brazil and Indonesia were the two largest buyers this year at 367,000 mt and 307,000 mt, respectively.
March exports were reported at 872,000 mt, up 14 percent from the March 2020 export number of 765,000 mt.
Brazil:
The import market remained flat at $200-$210/mt CFR at Paranagua. Inland, however, the Rondonopolis price dropped $5/mt on the lower end of the reported range, to $345-$355/mt FOB ex-warehouse.