U.S. Gulf:
Sources reported nearby ammonium sulfate barge pricing unchanged in the $525-$550/st FOB range. Tons loading in March were quoted trading at $560/st FOB. AdvanSix was posted at $550/st FOB.
U.S. Imports:
Ammonium sulfate imports for October softened 24.2 percent, to 49,607 st from the prior-year 65,419 st. Imports totaled 278,761 st in the July-October period, off 15.8 percent from 330,943 st during the same period last year
Canada sent 149,117 st for the July-October import period, a 0.8 percent increase from 147,868 st last year. Tons originating from Belgium totaled 91,552 st, up 65.9 percent from 55,188 st last year. With no new imports for October, South Korea occupied the third-place position with 22,046 st, down 27.3 percent from last year’s 30,313 st.
Big 2021 declines in tons sent from Russia, the Netherlands, and South Korea contributed to the market’s falling import total through the fertilizer year to-date.
U.S. Exports:
Ammonium sulfate exports for the July-October window were up 5.0 percent, to 227,378 st from 216,583 st last year. Exports were reported at 47,637 st for October, however, down 24.1 percent from 62,804 st in October 2020.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was quoted at $590-$610/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $5-$10/st from last week, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati and the high inland. The Ottawa, Ill., market was pegged at a firm $600/st FOB for the last reported offers.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate pricing eased up to $560-$590/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, up another $15/st from last report, with the low in Missouri and the high in Iowa. New offers FOB St. Paul were pegged in the $610-$615/st FOB range at midweek.
California:
The California ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $560-$575/st FOB or DEL in mid-December, depending on grade and location, up $20-$25/st from last report.
Pacific Northwest:
Ammonium sulfate pricing firmed to $560/st FOB for standard grade and $585-$590/st FOB for granular, up $15-$20/st from last report, with delivered granular pricing pegged at the $595/st level for Q1 tons in the Pacific Northwest.
Western Canada:
The ammonium sulfate market in Western Canada was pegged at C$760-$785/mt DEL for limited tons in mid-December, up from C$720-$780/mt at last report.
China:
Sources reported that Samsung organized a large shipment of 30,000 mt of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate to Turkey. The reported netback for the deal kept prices in the $370-$390/mt FOB range. One trader said the wide range is likely because Samsung had to make multiple small purchases over a long period of time to secure so many tons for one vessel.
Sources said demand in Southeast Asia and Brazil remains firm, but no longer frantic. Soon after the Chinese government-imposed export restrictions on urea and phosphates, many amsul buyers were nervous that their product would also soon be added to the list.
As the weeks passed and supplies of ammonium sulfate remained limited but freely traded, however, the fear of restrictions ebbed and normal buying patterns returned.
Brazil:
The upper end of the price range into Brazilian ports dropped as concerns eased that China might restrict exports of ammonium sulfate. Sources said the granular price into Brazilian ports is now at $500-$510/mt CFR.
The price in Rondonopolis settled at $670/mt FOB ex-warehouse as fears of shortages waned. Buyers seem to be concerned that some ammonium nitrate buyers may make moves on amsul if Russian ammonium nitrate becomes difficult to get.