U.S. Gulf:
Ammonium sulfate barges remained in tight supply, with the latest trades still called $295-$300/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market remained in the $320-$350/st FOB range in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low at East Dubuque and the high out of inland warehouses on a spot basis.
AdvanSix on June 28 said it was increasing the price of granular ammonium sulfate to $330/st FOB river terminals on new orders in the Midwest and Plains regions, effective immediately. The price is up $25/st from the $305/st level posted on June 7. The company said inland warehouses will continue to be priced at traditional spreads to the river.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices were unchanged at $320-$350/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and Camanche and the high reported at Sioux City, Iowa.
California:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices ranged from $325-$340/st FOB in California, up slightly from last report, with the low at Stockton. Standard grade continued to be referenced at $318/st FOB Chico and Woodland. Rail-DEL tons remained at $320-$345/st in the state, with the low for fine grade and the high for granular.
Pacific Northwest:
Reference prices for ammonium sulfate in the Pacific Northwest remained at $330/st FOB or DEL for standard and $363/st FOB or DEL for granular product.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices were down slightly in Western Canada, with sources quoting the market at C$505-$510/mt DEL in late June.
China:
The ammonium sulfate price in China is stable even as the market is tight and busy. Sources said Chinese sellers spent their time this week looking after deals previously made to buyers in Southeast Asia and Brazil. The price remained stable, just touching on $190s/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade product.
Brazil:
Granular amsul in Paranagua has moved up. Sources now peg the market at $290/mt FOB, with standard grade reported at $240-$250/mt CFR. Demand is growing as urea prices across the globe skyrocket. Blenders see the product as a cheaper alternative to urea, with the added benefit of adding sulfur to the mix.
The Rondonopolis market price spread out a bit from last week, with the top end moving up. Sources now place the market at $348-$410/mt FOB ex-warehouse.
Turkey:
January-May imports of ammonium sulfate in Turkey were up 125 percent, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 483,000 mt from 215,000 mt during the same period last year. May imports were also up at 102,000 mt, compared with 31,000 mt in May 2020. China was the largest single supplier so far this year, with 295,000 mt shipped into Turkey.
Thailand:
Ammonium sulfate imports in Thailand during the first five months of the year were up almost 70 percent, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 191,000 mt from 113,000 mt during the same period in 2020. The main supplier was China at 158,000 mt.
May imports were also up, to 68,000 mt versus 48,000 mt in May 2020. China dominated the month with 67,000 mt this year.
South Korea:
Exports of ammonium sulfate for January-May 2021 were up 37 percent, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 275,000 mt from 200,000 mt during the same period last year. The main buyers so far this year were Mexico at 82,000 mt, the U.S. at 59,000 mt, Thailand at 55,000 mt, and Turkey at 50,000 mt.
May 2021 exports exploded at 85,000 mt, compared with 23,000 mt in May 2020. The top three May buyers were Mexico at 31,000 mt, Thailand at 28,000 mt, and New Zealand at 27,000 mt.