U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate prices continued to slip. The market was quoted at $500-$530/st FOB, down from the week-ago $530-$550/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $625-$655/st FOB for the last confirmed offers in the Eastern Cornbelt.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was unchanged at $595-$640/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt.
Northern Plains:
Ammonium sulfate prices slipped to $580-$615/st DEL in the Northern Plains, some $100/st lower than pricing levels reported in early June.
Northeast:
Ammonium sulfate prices were steady at $680-$700/st FOB and $695-$725/st DEL for the last confirmed offers in the Northeast, depending on location.
Eastern Canada:
The ammonium sulfate market in Eastern Canada was quoted at C$980-$1,075/mt FOB in late June, down C$55/mt at the low end of the range.
China:
Prices have softened for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate, partly due to the softer urea prices in Asia and because buyers have been focusing on other grades of ammonium sulfate. Sources now put the market at $250-$270/mt FOB for caprolactam amsul.
Some of the reasons buyers are moving to other grades, such as steel-grade amsul, is because the reduced industrial output in China is showing a similar decline in amsul as a byproduct. Sources said inflation and higher interest rates are reducing some of the demand for Chinese-made products. At the same time, COVID-related restrictions in China continue to play havoc with factories coming back online.
Exports of all grades of ammonium sulfate for January-May 2022 were reported at 3.95 million mt, up slightly from the 3.9 million mt exported during the same period of 2021. Trade Data Monitor reported that Brazil remains the top buyer of Chinese product at 574,000 mt, with Turkey next at 550,000 mt, and Vietnam following at 425,000 mt.
May 2022 exports were reported at 781,000 mt, down slightly from the 799,000 mt exported in May 2021, with 15 countries accounting for 67% of all exports. The top two buyers, however, were Brazil with 118,000 mt and Vietnam with 83,000 mt.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil moved up slightly as the week ended, following reports of higher urea prices on the way. Sources put the price at $330-$355/mt CFR. Asian traders, who had not yet caught the late-week surge, were calling the market closer to $300/mt CFR.
Rondonópolis moved up to $520/mt FOB ex-warehouse in limited trading, also following reports of higher urea prices. Sources said they expect to see continued price increases as demand for urea picks up and amsul follows.