US Gulf:
After weeks of limited business, the NOLA ammonium sulfate market broadened to $245-$275/st FOB for confirmed new trades, with the high reported for domestic October barges and the low for October tons of Spanish origin. Reports of transactions for compacted product of Russian origin at the $235/st FOB NOLA level could not be confirmed.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market broadened to $285-$335/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the high reflecting IOC’s last postings FOB Illinois and Ohio river terminals. The Cincinnati market was reportedly referenced at the $300-$320/st FOB level, but sources said deals as low as $285/st FOB were concluded during the week for small-volume sales.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was steady at $295-$310/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt in the wake of higher postings from IOC and AdvanSix, with the low at St. Louis and the high reported out of spot Iowa shipping points.
Northern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to a broad $300-$345/st FOB in the Northern Plains, with the low reported at St. Paul, Minn., and the high at Sioux City, Iowa. Delivered pricing strengthened to $320-$345/st in the region, up sharply from the $275-$300/st rail-DEL range reported in mid-September.
IOC’s Sept. 19 granular ammonium sulfate postings for September-October shipment included $345/st FOB Sioux City and Casselton, N.D., and $340/st rail-DEL in the Northern Plains. Postings for November-December shipment are $15/st higher.
Northeast:
The latest ammonium sulfate pricing in the Northeast was pegged at $320-$325/st FOB and $320-$345/st DEL, up $10/st from last report.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Eastern Canada inched up to C$530-$545/mt FOB from the prior C$500-$518/mt range.
China:
The market was mostly quiet due to China’s Golden Week celebrations. The discussions that did take place, however, showed caprolactam grade amsul firming into the low-$170s/mt FOB, sources said.
Thailand:
January-August ammonium sulfate imports totaled 182,000 mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, down from the year-ago 300,000 mt, a reflecting a general decline in amsul buying interest in the area. August imports were 28,000 mt, up slightly from the 25,000 mt recorded in August 2022. China was the month’s largest supplier, sending 27,000 mt.
Turkey:
Turkey imported 612,000 mt of amsul in January-August 2023, according to Trade Data Monitor,down 16% from the 732,000 mt received last year. No imports were recorded in August, compared to 46 mt purchased in August 2022. Turkey traditionally slows amsul imports in the third quarter, while purchases pick up again in October-December.
Brazil:
The landed price of ammonium sulfate rose to $215-$220/mt CFR, with players citing limited availability. Prices also moved up at Rondonopolis, firming to the week-ago high of $330/mt FOB ex-warehouse.