US Gulf:
The ammonium sulfate barge market remained at the $220/st FOB NOLA level for the last confirmed trades. Posted prices were up, however, with Interoceanic (IOC) on Aug. 28 announcing new granular barge pricing at $255/st FOB NOLA for August-October shipments and $265/st FOB for November-December.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was pegged at $285-$310/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt in late August, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati.
IOC on Aug. 28 announced updated pricing for granular ammonium sulfate at $300/st FOB Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio river terminals for August-October shipment, with November-December prices firming to $315/st FOB at those locations.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $275-$300/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
New postings from IOC for August-October shipment included $295/st FOB St. Louis; $300/st FOB Upper Mississippi River terminals; $310/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., and Casselton, N.D.; and $320/st rail-DEL in the Northern Plains. IOC’s postings for November-December shipment are $15/st higher.
Southern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market tightened to $275-$290/st FOB in the Southern Plains, with the high reported at Catoosa/Inola and the low reflecting IOC’s latest Houston price for August-October shipment. IOC’s Houston price for November-December is $290/st FOB.
South Central:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged in a broad range at $270-$350/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low at Memphis and the high reported at Little Rock. IOC’s Aug. 28 postings at Delta terminals included $295/st FOB for August-October shipment and $310/st FOB for November-December shipment.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate prices ranged broadly at $220-$305/st FOB in the Southeast, depending on location and grade, with the low confirmed in Alabama. AdvanSix on Aug. 26 raised its ammonium sulfate prices FOB Hopewell, Va., to $305/st for granular, $275/st for mid-grade, and $255/st for standard, up $10/st from the company’s Aug. 14 postings.
China:
The price remained steady in the upper-$160s/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul.
The Panama Canal Authority’s announcement that it is restricting vessel passages due to severe drought conditions does not seem to have impacted the China-Brazil trade. Sources in Asia described China’s normal route to Brazil as via the Cape of Good Hope, and not through the Panama Canal.
Brazil is China’s single largest buyer of amsul. Trade Data Monitor reported January-July exports to Brazil at 1.7 million mt, nearly 25% of China’s total 6.9 million mt exported during the period.
Sources expect issues for delivery to Mexico’s East Coast, however, as these shipments will have to pass through the Panama Canal. The typical 3-5 day wait for entrance to the canal is currently running closer to 11 days, according to media reports. The Canal Authority noted delays up to 19 days earlier in August.
Thailand:
January-July ammonium sulfate imports fell 44% year-over-year, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 154,000 mt from 275,000 mt. July imports of 40,000 mt – mostly from China – were off 33% from the 60,000 mt purchased in July 2022.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil continue to retreat. Sources put the landed price at $170-$175/mt CFR, a 5.5% decrease from the week-ago $180-$185/mt CFR.
In line with the urea trend, ammonium sulfate prices at Rondonopolis dropped by $15/mt, settling at $295-$315/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Negotiations remain subdued amid expectations of further declines.