U.S. Gulf:
The most recent NOLA ammonium sulfate barge trades were quoted at a flat $415/st FOB level, up from the week-ago $410-$415/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was quoted at a firm $435-$455/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $435-$450/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, reflecting another slight increase at the top of the range.
Northern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices were quoted at $450-$475/st FOB St. Paul, with delivered tons in North Dakota pegged in the $460-$485/st range at mid-month.
Northeast:
Sources pegged the ammonium sulfate market at $420-$440/st FOB in the Northeast, with the low reflecting AdvanSix’s Oct. 16 granular posting at Hopewell, Va. The new Hopewell price is an $85/st increase from the company’s last posting on Sept. 20. Mid-grade and standard postings at Hopewell firmed on Oct. 16 to $400/st and $380/st FOB, respectively.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Eastern Canada had reportedly strengthened to C$620-$685/mt FOB in mid-October, up from C$535-$585/mt FOB in late September.
China:
Ammonium sulfate prices in China are reportedly all over the place. Bids of $250/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul are being rejected by sellers who are looking at the $300s/mt FOB as the new price.
Sources reported that while amsul was not on the list of items banned from export, producers are looking at limited supplies and are using the current situation to push prices higher. Buyers are pushing back against the sellers, however. The last confirmed deal was in the low-$260s/mt FOB a week ago.One trader said no matter how hard the buyers resist, the price will hit the $300s/mt FOB soon.
Chinese exports of ammonium sulfate for January-September 2021 were reported at 7.1 million mt, a 20.6 percent increase from 5.9 million mt during same period in 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor. The main buyers of Chinese amsul were Brazil at 1.9 million mt, Vietnam at 835,000 mt, and Indonesia at 734,000 mt.
Third-quarter 2021 exports were reported at 2.5 million mt, just 9 percent higher than the 2.3 million mt exported during the same period last year.September 2021 exports were reported at 775,000 mt, just marginally more than September 2020 export of 768,000 mt.
South Korea:
Exports of ammonium sulfate for January-September 2021 were up 40 percent, to 454,000 mt from 325,000 mt during the same period in 2020. The main buyers, according to Trade Data Monitor, were Mexico at 107,000 mt, Turkey at 95,000 mt, and the U.S. at 79,000 mt.
Third-quarter 2021 exports were reported at 133,000 mt, just slightly up from the 101,000 mt shipped during the same period in 2020.September 2021 exports were up 60 percent, to 72,000 mt from 45,000 mt in September 2020.
Brazil:
The price at Paranagua is a matter of debate because of a quiet market. There are, however, agreements that the range looks to be $450-$500/mt CFR. The price comes, said sources, not from any new deals of landed amsul, but rather in the sales of the product to inland buyers. Sources put the FOB price at Paranagua at $536-$655/mt, giving an indication of what the CFR price should be.
While pricing dramas are playing out in China and at Paranagua, sources said the Rondonopolis market held even this week at $500/mt FOB ex-warehouse.