U.S. Gulf:
Ammonium sulfate barge prices continued to firm, with new trades reported in the $290-$300/st FOB range, up from $285-$300/st FOB. Product remained in very short supply.
U.S. Imports:
July-April ammonium sulfate imports totaled 867,934 st, rising 51.8 percent from the year-ago 571,818 st. April imports dipped 9.7 percent, however, to 135,623 st from 150,244 st in the prior year.
Canada led importers in the July-April period with 431,163 st, up 48.3 percent from the prior-year 290,793 st, while material loading from Belgium totaled 191,885 for the same period, a 43.0 percent increase from 134,207 st in the prior year. Russian tons totaled 97,191 st, up 70.6 percent from the year-ago 56,967 st.
U.S. Exports:
Ammonium sulfate exports firmed 1.8 percent in July-April, to 520,004 st from the year-ago 510,795 st. April totals were up 550.2 percent year-over-year, to 50,392 st from 7,750 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained in the $305-$350/st FOB range in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location, with the low reflecting the latest Midwest river terminal postings from AdvanSix. Specific regional terminal quotes in mid-June included $320/st FOB East Dubuque, $325/st FOB Ottawa, and $350/st FOB Cincinnati for domestic tons.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices were steady at $305-$350/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reflecting the latest river terminal pricing from AdvanSix and the high reported at Sioux City, Iowa. The St. Louis and Camanche markets remained at the $320/st FOB level at mid-month.
Northern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $350-$360/st DEL for prompt tons in the Northern Plains, with reports of fill offers circulating in the $310-$325/st DEL range. The St. Paul market was pegged at $300-$325/st FOB at mid-month, with reference pricing FOB Sioux City quoted at the $350/st level.
Great Lakes:
Ammonium sulfate pricing in the Great Lakes region had strengthened to $345-$370/st FOB, up $10/st at the high end of the range, with the low confirmed at Burns Harbor and the high at Webberville. The market FOB Maumee, Ohio, was reported at the $360/st FOB level in mid-June.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $300-$330/st FOB in the Northeast, with the low confirmed at Hopewell, Va., and the high at East Liverpool, Ohio. Delivered pricing ranged from $340-$345/st in the region.
Eastern Canada:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in Eastern Canada was steady at C$459-$515/mt FOB in mid-June, unchanged from last report. Sources reported very limited supply, with a fill program expected in July.
China:
The rising price of urea has hit the amsul market in China. Sources said NPK producers in Asia have given up on looking for deals in the urea market and have settled on buying more ammonium sulfate. The result was an explosion in pricing.
Haili in China held an auction for 10,000 mt of caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate for July shipment. The tender closed on June 16 at a price of $180/mt FOB, reflecting a $20/mt jump from last week.Concurrent to the Haili business, Luxi sold a cargo of 3,000 mt of capro grade at $190/mt FOB.
As the week ended, sources said talks for additional cargoes were all focusing on $200/mt FOB and up. Traders said they heard of deals being done at that level, but could offer no details.
The demand for amsul by NPK producers is not limited to China. Sources said producers throughout Southeast Asia are looking for amsul to replace the more expensive urea. Buyers in Indonesia and Malaysia are being hit twice. Sources said not only is the price of amsul going up, but the freight continues to bedevil buyers with higher rates.
Brazil:
Granular ammonium sulfate in Brazil has moved up more than $15/mt, to $255-$285/mt CFR in Paranagua. International traders said they were not surprised by the jump in the Brazilian price after seeing what happened in China during the week.
Even as Paranagua showed a big step higher, the Rondonopolis price took a slight dip to $330-$404/mt FOB ex-warehouse. The drop of $20/mt across the range showed how the market is in a state of flux, said sources.