US Gulf:
NOLA barge prices edged down to $325-$330/st FOB from $330-$340/st FOB.
US Imports:
July-December ammonium sulfate imports totaled 314,031 st, off 19.3% from the year-ago 389,115 st. December imports were down 30.6%, to 31,261 st from the prior 45,065 st.
Imports originating from Canada totaled 195,566 st for July-December, ahead of Belgium’s 89,647 st. South Korea sent 17,141 st.
US Exports:
December amsul exports fell 48.0%, to 57,227 st from 110,011 st in December 2021. July-December exports were up 21.6%, however, to 438,737 st from 360,755 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate was reported in a broad range at $370-$425/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $385-$405/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. Northern Plains sources confirmed recent offers FOB Sioux City, Iowa, at the $415/st level.
California:
Ammonium sulfate prices in California reportedly fell to $460-$465/st FOB, below the previous $500-$525/st FOB range, with the high confirmed at Lathrop, Woodland, and Richvale. Rail-DEL offers were also quoted at the $460/st level in Northern California.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $430-$470/st FOB and $430-$475/st DEL in the Pacific Northwest, 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 was quoted at C$600-$610/mt DEL for February-March, down from a high of C$635/mt in January.
China:
Sources reported a slight softening of the market to the low-$160s/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate. Supplies are expected to remain limited as long as China’s industrial output lags, said sources.
Indonesia:
A Pupuk Holdings tender calling for 35,000 mt of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate closed on Feb. 8. The tender called for 15,000 mt delivered to Kujang, and 20,000 mt to Palembang. Shipments are to be in 5,000 mt lots, with Palembang receiving its allotment in March and Kujang getting its amsul in April.
Initial reports from the tender showed low offers in the low- to mid-$170s/mt CFR. Sources put the freight at $30/mt for a netback to China in the low-$140s/mt FOB. The last Indonesian tender in January showed a price at $180/mt CFR, for a netback to China in the mid-$160s/mt FOB. The lowest offer in the latest tender reportedly was Best Sign, the winner of the January tender.
Brazil:
Sources reported a slight decrease in pricing to $220-$235/mt CFR. Prices are following the softer urea market, as buyers find less need to look for a nitrogen substitute.
The Rondonopolis price was reported down to $375/mt FOB ex-warehouse on limited demand.
Imports of ammonium sulfate totaled 361,000 mt in January, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 7.5% year-over-year decrease from 390,000 mt. China dominated the supplies with 332,000 mt, good for 92% of the imported amsul.