US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market was described as “very quiet” at $300-$305/st FOB, with the low confirmed for a prompt sale at midweek.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices were steady at $385-$400/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate slipped to $360-$390/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
California:
Ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $430-$465/st FOB in California, depending on grade, though rail-DEL offers in Northern California have reportedly slumped to a low of $420-$425/st on a spot basis.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market tightened to $370-$400/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest, with the low for standard and the high for granular grade.
Western Canada:
Pricing for ammonium sulfate in Western Canada remained at C$510-$520/mt DEL for June tons.
China:
Sources said the fate of amsul is tied to that that of urea. However, the Chinese urea market is moving at odds with the global market. While urea prices are softening from India to Brazil, prices remain firm in China and Southeast Asia.
Ammonium sulfate prices have also shown a degree of stability and firmness, and sources put the price for caprolactam grade amsul at $100-$105/mt FOB. Buyers pushing for lower prices are being rebuffed by sellers and eventually settle in the $100s/mt FOB.
Sources said most of the producers are sold out for June, forcing higher prices for any prompt shipments. July orders were said to fall toward the lower end of the existing range, while prices in the upper-$90s/mt FOB may be a possibility under the right circumstances.
Brazil:
Demand for amsul in Brazil has dropped along with lower urea prices. Sources said ammonium sulfate is no longer a cheaper nitrogen substitute, and put the landed price at $145-$150/mt CFR, off about $10/mt from one week earlier.
The Rondonopolis price for ammonium sulfate also came down. Sources reported limited deals at $265-$275/mt FOB ex-warehouse, a drop of $15-$25/mt from last week.