U.S. Gulf:
The last done NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were put in the $330-$340/st FOB range.
U.S. Imports:
July ammonium sulfate imports were up 59.5 percent, to 42,131 st from 26,422 st in the prior year. Shipments loading from Canada totaled 27,417 st, while Spain contributed 14,330 st to the month’s import slate. Belgium’s 148 st represented July’s third largest total.
U.S. Exports:
Ammonium sulfate exports in July were up 19.2 percent, to 54,916 st from the prior-year 46,088 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market firmed to $355-$375/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up $5/st from last report.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $350-$370/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis, Mo.
Northern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate was quoted at a solid $370/st FOB St. Paul, Minn., and $385/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, with delivered offers ranging in the $385-$395/st range in the Northern Plains, up $25/st from last report.
Great Lakes:
Ammonium sulfate pricing in the Great Lakes region had reportedly strengthened to $370-$390/st FOB, up $20/st from mid-summer levels.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $315/st FOB Hopewell, Va., and $350/st FOB East Liverpool, Ohio, with delivered tons pegged in the $350-$370/st range in the Northeast.
China:
The price for caprolactam grade amsul remains steady at $200-$205/mt FOB. A deal this week of 6,000 mt to a Philippine buyer at $240/mt CFR confirmed the pricing level.
Sources said supply and demand are running about parallel. Shutdowns in Southeast Asia related to COVID-19 are impacting demand at the same time that similar shutdowns in China limit supply.
Brazil:
Sources said the holiday break led to a quiet market. The only quotes reported were for standard amsul at $270/mt CFR. No deals were reported for granular amsul, leaving the price at $320-$345/mt CFR.
Ammonium sulfate imports for January-August 2021 were up 44 percent, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 2.2 million mt from 1.53 million mt during the same period in 2020. China supplied more than half of the imports so far this year at 1.75 million mt, followed by Belgium at 213,000 mt.
August imports were up 91 percent, to 298,000 mt from 156,000 mt in August 2020. China supplied 262,000 mt in August, followed by the U.S. at 15,000 mt.