U.S. Gulf:
Ammonium sulfate barge prices continued to strengthen at $265-$275/st FOB, up from the week-ago $260-$270/st FOB. At last report, IOC was posted at $275/st and APF at $276/st FOB.
U.S. Imports:
July-March ammonium sulfate imports firmed 73.7 percent year-over-year, to 732,311 st from 421,576 st. Totals were up 2.0 percent in March, to 119,385 st from the year-ago 117,081 st.
Canada led the July-March fertilizer year-to-date with 381,329 st, up 53.6 percent from the late year’s 248,193 st, while tons sourced from Belgium totaled 114,735, a 31.8 percent increase from 87,066 st last year. Russian material totaled 89,762 st, 98.8 percent higher than the year-ago 45,152 st.
U.S. Exports:
March ammonium sulfate exports softened 42.9 percent, to 25,139 st from the year-ago 44,012 st. July-March exports slid 6.8 percent, to 469,085 st from the prior-year 503,045 st
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was quoted at $290-$320/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low at Cincinnati. The latest postings from Interoceanic (IOC) included $310/st FOB Upper Mississippi and Illinois River terminals and $315/st FOB Ohio River terminals.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $295-$330/st FOB, with the low at Caruthersville and the high at Sioux City, Iowa. IOC’s May 3 postings included $300/st FOB St. Louis, $310/st FOB Upper Mississippi River terminals, and $330/st FOB Sioux City.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing had reportedly firmed to $285-$290/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and $290-$300/st FOB Houston. Delivered tons into central Texas were pegged at $310-$314/st. IOC on May 3 moved its postings up to $295/st FOB Houston and $325/st rail-DEL in the Southern Plains, citing strong demand and tight inventories.
Also on May 3, American Plant Food (APF) moved its ammonium sulfate prices to $290-$300/st FOB Freeport, Texas, up from the last reported range of $270-$275/st FOB. APF said the increase was due to limited supply and increasing input costs.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate was reported at $285-$295 FOB terminals in the South Central region, up $15/st from mid-April. IOC on May 3 raised its postings to $300/st FOB Delta terminals.
Southeast:
Higher ammonia sulfate postings were in effect in the Southeast. AdvanSix announced another $15/st increase on April 29, with postings FOB Hopewell, Va., firming to $300/st for granular, $280/st for mid-grade, and $260/st for standard.
IOC on May 3 raised its posted price to $310/st FOB Tampa, Fla. Delivered pricing in Florida was quoted at $290/st for standard and $340/st for granular.
China:
Sources reported ammonium sulfate deals in the upper-$150s/mt FOB in China, touching on $160/mt FOB. Supplies remain steady and demand strong, leading to a stable market.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil have moved up as overall nitrogen demand picks up. Sources put the price at Paranagua at $200-$212/mt CFR, representing a $7-$12/mt increase.
The price in Rondonopolis was quoted at $320-$340/mt FOB ex-warehouse, with the Sorriso range expanding to $320-$355/mt FOB ex-warehouse. The barter rate for 1 mt of ammonium sulfate at Rondonopolis remains at 39 bags of corn.
Ammonium sulfate imports for the first four months of the year were up 36 percent, to 1.25 million mt from 921,000 mt last year, according to Trade Data Monitor. April 2021 imports were down 65 percent, however, to 87,000 mt from 251,000 mt in April 2020.