US Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges remained firm at $325-$330/st FOB.
US Imports:
Ammonium sulfate imports totaled 77,049 st for March, off 22.2% from the year-ago 99,036 st. July-March volumes were 518,296 st, falling 21.0% from 655,677 st in the year-ago.
Imports from Canada were counted at 303,781 st for July-March. Belgium sent 150,417 st, followed by 47,455 st from South Korea.
US Exports:
Amsul exports rose 28.5% in July-March, to 602,510 st from the year-ago 468,956 st. Shipments totaled 33,237 st for March, however, off 34.5% from 50,726 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices were inching up in the Eastern Cornbelt on reports of tightening supply. New prices ranged from $385-$405/st FOB in the region, up from last week’s $375-$400/st FOB range.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $375-$400/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and the high reported in Iowa.
Northern Plains:
Strong demand and tight supply pushed granular ammonium sulfate pricing up to $400-$410/st FOB in North Dakota and $450-$480/st DEL in the Northern Plains, depending on location. Those levels were up sharply from the previous $370-$385/st FOB and $380-$400/st DEL levels.
Northeast:
The ammonium sulfate market was unchanged at $400-$410/st FOB and $450-$470/st DEL in the Northeast, depending on location.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate was quoted at C$720-$825/mt FOB in Eastern Canada, up from the prior low of C$690/mt FOB.
China:
Sources reported prices moving up on a large sale to the Philippines and multiple small-lot deals to other regional buyers. Sources noted an early-week deal in the mid-$130s/mt FOB, while another deal was reported later in the week in the upper-$130s/mt, leaving the price at $133-$139/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate.
Among the reported sales, sources said that Taiwan purchased 20,000 mt, while several regional buyers combined to take an additional 25,000-30,000 mt.
Brazil:
A general lack of interest in nitrogen products has moved the landed price to a flat $180/mt FOB. The Rondonopolis price shared the same malaise, dropping $10/mt to $285-$320/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Even with limited demand, sources said that buyers looking for prompt deliveries are often left empty-handed.
January-April ammonium sulfate imports softened 37%, Trade Data Monitor reported,to 1.0 million mt from the year-ago 1.6 million mt. April imports were 245,000 mt, off 20% from 308,000 mt recorded in April. China supplied 93% of the product, sending 229,000 mt.