US Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were under pressure as the week wore on, falling to $305-$315/st FOB from the week-ago $325-$330/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices edged up to $385-$410/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $375-$400/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and the high reported in Iowa.
California:
Ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $430-$465/st FOB in California, with the low for standard grade. Pricing for granular and/or premium grade ammonium sulfate was quoted in the $460-$465/st FOB range in the state.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market in the Pacific Northwest was unchanged at $370/st FOB/DEL for standard grade, with granular quoted at $400-$445/st FOB/DEL, depending on supplier and location.
Western Canada:
Pricing for ammonium sulfate in Western Canada slipped to C$510-$520/mt DEL, down slightly from the prior C$530/mt DEL high.
China:
Prices were reported to soften, with sources now putting caprolactam-grade amsul at $120-$125/mt FOB. New bids were reported coming at $115-$120/mt FOB, but without success so far.
Deals into Vietnam showed a netback of $123-$125/mt FOB, while a sale to the Philippines indicated a low-$120s/mt FOB price for Chinese product.
Exports of ammonium sulfate stood at 3.6 million mt for January-April, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 15% year-over-year increase from 3.2 million mt. April exports firmed slightly, to 849,000 mt from 816,000 mt in April 2022. Brazil took 187,000 mt in April, followed by Myanmar with 149,000 mt. Nigeria and Vietnam received around 92,000 mt each.
Brazil:
The ever-softening urea market is also playing havoc with the amsul price. Sources now report port-side prices at a flat $170/mt CFR. Even at this lower level, the price does not make amsul attractive as a urea substitute, leaving holders of product competing in a dwindling market.
The lack of inland interest for amsul led the Rondonopolis price to fall to $285-$320/mt FOB ex-plant.