U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barge price ideas were quoted at $655/st FOB or higher, according to most sources. This compares to the week-ago $620-$655/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $690-$710/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the Cincinnati market quoted solidly at the $700/st FOB level.
March 14 postings from AdvanSix included granular ammonium sulfate at $690/st FOB Granite City, Ill., and Prairie du Chien, Wisc., $695/st FOB Amherst Junction, Wisc., and $700/st rail-DEL in Illinois and Wisconsin. The company’s mid-grade postings included $630/st FOB Byron and Tolono, Ill., and $640/st rail-DEL in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $685-$700/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt in late March. New sales were confirmed at $705-$740/st DEL in North Dakota, up from $670-$700/st at last report.
AdvanSix’s March 14 ammonium sulfate postings included granular at $690/st FOB Winona, Minn., $700/st FOB Brooten, Minn., and $715/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, with mid-grade referenced at $630/st FOB Winona. The company’s rail-DEL postings in Iowa and Minnesota firmed on that date to $700/st for granular and $640/st for mid-grade.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $670-$685/st FOB in California, up $45/st from last report, with the low confirmed at Lathrop and the high at Helm. Other terminal prices included $675/st FOB Woodland and Richvale.
Pacific Northwest:
IRM’s March 15 postings for ammonium sulfate in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Utah included WesternStandard at $620/st FOB or DEL, and Tranzform and WesternPremium at $670/st FOB or DEL. New prices from other suppliers included granular at $715/st FOB regional warehouses and $720/st DEL for tons from Canada.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices were up significantly in Western Canada, with reports of new offers for limited tons climbing to C$875-$925/mt DEL, up from C$825-$840/mt in early March.
China:
Prices moved up as demand picked up in Southeast Asia and Brazil. Sources said the new price level is pegged at $350-$400/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate.
Exports of ammonium sulfate during January and February this year were reported at 1.6 million mt by Trade Data Monitor. This amount represents a 24 percent increase from 1.3 million mt exported during the same period in 2021.
February 2022 exports were down just under 1 percent, to 641,000 mt from 646,000 mt in February 202. Turkey was the main buyer in February 2022 with 136,000 mt, followed by Brazil with 72,000 mt and Vietnam with 71,000 mt. Together the three buyers accounted for a little more than half of all exports for the month.
Brazil:
Demand for ammonium sulfate is so strong that 489,000 mt in vessels is slated to arrive soon at Brazilian ports. The current price is pegged at $480-$505/mt CFR, reflecting a roughly $50/mt bump in prices.
Rondonopolis prices have not caught up with the rising port prices. Sources said the market remains at $595/mt FOB ex-warehouse, but this is expected to change as demand for the product picks up.
More NPK producers are looking for amsul to replace the more expensive urea in their blending formulations. The buyers are also aware that while they face competition in demand from Southeast Asian buyers, the Chinese product is not export restricted.
For the buyers, the issues all revolve around basic market forces instead of government-imposed shortages, as is the case with Chinese phosphates and urea.