US Gulf:
Nothing new was reported on the barge market, with last-done business continuing to be put in the $349-$365/st FOB range.
US Imports:
October ammonium sulfate imports firmed 92.0% against the prior year, to 95,227 st from 49,607 st. Imports fell 49,607 st for July-October, however, to 242,185 st from the year-ago 278,761 st.
Imports from Canada stood at 124,854 st for July-October, followed by Belgium at 89,647 st, and 17,141 st from South Korea.
US Exports:
October ammonium sulfate exports were noted at 56,538 st, an 18.7% increase on the year-ago 47,637 st. Exports firmed to 292,593 st for July-October, up 31.3% from the year-ago 222,777 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $400-$450/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the Cincinnati market quoted at $400-$420/st FOB.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained in a broad range at $420-$480/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market was steady at $500-$525/st FOB in California, depending on grade and location, with the high confirmed at Lathrop, Woodland, and Richvale. Rail-DEL pricing for granular tons in Northern California was pegged in the $460-$465/st range in late December.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $430-$470/st FOB and $430-$475/st DEL in the region, depending on grade, location, and supplier, with the low confirmed for standard and the high for granular product.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate pricing in Western Canada dropped to C$600-$615/mt DEL for December-January business, down from C$650-$690/mt DEL for prompt tons at last report. “Shipping is steady and there are outages in Saskatchewan and Manitoba because of rail and truck issues,” commented one source.
China:
Sources said that sales to regional buyers are holding the price level in the low-$170s/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate. Traders noted one sale priced in RMB that showed an equivalent value in the mid-$160s/mt FOB. This sale was not seen as part of the regular market, however.
January-November exports of ammonium sulfate stood at 11.3 million mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 23% increase from 9.2 million mt noted for the prior-year period. The increase in amsul sales, said one trader, was made possible because the product was not placed on the export-restricted list alongside urea and DAP. While sources said there has been some talk that amsul could be included in the 2023 restrictions, few seem to think it will happen, as amsul – often created as a byproduct – differs from urea production.
November exports were reported at 1.1 million mt, up slightly from 1 million mt exported during November 2021, with Brazil and Turkey purchasing the bulk of exports, both in the year-to-date and November periods. Brazil bought 3.3 million mt in January-November and 253,000 mt in November, while Turkey took 1 million mt in January-November and 171,000 mt in November.
Russia:
The Russian government is expected to issue an amsul export quota of 480,000 mt for January-May 2023. This level is not expected to impact exports. Trade Data Monitor reported average exports for the same periods of 2019-2021 at 136,000 mt.
Brazil:
The ammonium sulfate price in Brazil softened slightly to $250-$265/mt CFR. Sources said the lower end of the range represented February purchases, as suppliers are reportedly out of January product.
The price in Rondonopolis dropped to $400-$410/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Dealers said they were also faced with cheaper product for February and limited tons for January.
South Korea:
Ammonium sulfate exports for January-November were reported at 234,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, down54% year-over-year from 503,000 mt. The main buyers were the US with 86,000 mt, Mexico with 83,000 mt, and New Zealand with 41,000 mt.
November exports were reported at 28,000 mt, down slightly from 37,000 mt sold in November 2021. The US took 27,500 mt of the tonnage.