U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were stable at $675-$695/st FOB.
U.S. Imports:
Ammonium sulfate imports firmed 3.0 percent in February, to 104,780 st from 101,696 st in February 2021. July-February imports were off 9.2 percent, however, to 556,737 st from the prior year’s 612,926 st.
Canada topped the import list for July-February with 310,582 st, followed by Belgium at 152,976 st and South Korea at 50,265 st. Lower imports from Russia and the Netherlands were primarily responsible for the market’s reduced totals in the July-February period.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to $740-$760/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location, with Cincinnati pricing quoted at $750-$760/st FOB. Postings from AdvanSix in Illinois remained at $740-$745/st FOB and $750/st DEL for granular, with mid-grade referenced at $680/st FOB and $690/st DEL.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $720-$740/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. AdvanSix’s rail-DEL ammonium sulfate postings in Iowa included granular at $750/st and mid-grade at $690/st.
Northern Plains:
Delivered granular ammonium sulfate was pegged at $760-$800/st in North Dakota, with the high confirmed in western areas of the state.
AdvanSix’s April 1 granular ammonium sulfate postings included $740-$750/st FOB Minnesota terminals, $765/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, and $750/st rail-DEL in Minnesota, up $50/st from the company’s March 14 reference prices. Mid-grade reference pricing was reported at $680/st FOB and $690/st DEL in Minnesota.
Northeast:
The granular ammonium sulfate market in the Northeast reportedly firmed to a broad $720-$775/st FOB or DEL range, depending on location, up from $700-$720/st at last report.
Eastern Canada:
New offers for ammonium sulfate in Eastern Canada were confirmed at the C$1,039-$1,075/mt FOB level in mid-April, up considerably from the last reported range of C$990-$1,015/mt FOB.
China:
Apparent weakness in demand for ammonium sulfate in the Southeast Asian markets is leading to softer prices out of China. Some sources said the price is now at $340-$350/mt FOB for standard caprolactam grade amsul. Others, however, said the price has gone as low as $320/mt FOB.
January-March exports were reported at 2.4 million mt by Trade Data Monitor, up from 2.2 million mt during the same period last year. Turkey, Brazil, and Vietnam, the three main buyers, accounted for just under half of all exports.
March 2022 exports were 759,000 mt, down from 872,000 mt in March 2021. Turkey purchased 99,000 mt in March, accounting for 13 percent of all exports. Vietnam was a close second at 94,000 mt, representing 12 percent of all ammonium sulfate exports.
South Korea:
January-March exports were reported at 81,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, down 56 percent from the 182,000 mt exported during the first quarter of 2021.March 2022 exports were reported at 15,000 mt, down from 78,000 mt in March 2021.
Brazil:
The ammonium sulfate price range in Brazil tightened to $470-$480/mt CFR. Sources reported that even with 2022 first-quarter imports up 21 percent over last year, an additional 148,000 mt of amsul from China is expected from April through June.
Demand for amsul by regional distributors has created a wider price range. Sources now quote the Rondonopolis market at $575-$640/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Sources said the differences in pricing could be the result of differing delivery times, with the prompt deliveries earning higher prices.