US Gulf:
With no new business to test the market, NOLA ammonium sulfate prices remained at $270-$275/st FOB for the last indications.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Eastern Cornbelt was unchanged at $310-$345/st FOB, with the low confirmed at river terminals in Illinois and the high at inland warehouses. The Cincinnati market ranged broadly at $315-$335/st FOB in early November.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $300-$335/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market in California widened to $320-$350/st FOB and $350/st DEL for the latest offers, depending on grade and location, with the low reported at Lathrop, Woodland, and Richvale. The latest posting FOB Helm remained at the $330/st FOB level in early November.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $285-$330/st FOB or DEL in the region for the latest offers, with the low for standard grade and the high for granular.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices remained at C$480-$495/mt DEL in Western Canada for November-January, with postings reported as high as C$505/mt DEL in the region.
China:
Prices in China continued to decline due to pressure from softer deals into Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Brazilian price for standard amsul dropped to $185-$205/mt CFR from $205-$215/mt CFR. At the same time, a recent caprolactam grade deal into the Philippines showed a netback of $135/mt FOB.
Producers confirmed prices have come off this week, citing a bulk price of $145/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul. Sources said this is the level producers are trying to keep, but as shown in the Philippines, are unable to hold.
TCC scrapped a large part of a 20,000 mt selling tender during the week. The producer was able to move 9,000 mt at $150/mt FOB, while all other offers were noted in the $130s/mt FOB. The buyer was reportedly desperate for material and willing to accept the above-market price.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports fell to $185-$205/mt CFR from the week-ago $205-$215/mt CFR. Bidding noted around $180/mt CFR failed to transact, players said. Confirmed offers in Rondonópolis softened to a low of $325/mt FOB ex-warehouse on limited availability, dragging the range to $325-$340/mt FOB.
Brazil imported 3.8 million mt of ammonium sulfate in January-October, according to Trade Data Monitor, steady from one year earlier. Imports totaled 938,000 mt in October, a 43% increase from 658,000 mt in October 2022. China was Brazil’s primary supplier, sending 3.5 million mt during the first 10 months of the year, as well as 914,000 mt in October.