US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate market continued at a nominal $270-$275/st FOB, but no new business was reported to test the market.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Eastern Cornbelt was pegged at $300-$340/st FOB, with the low confirmed at spot river terminals in Illinois and the high at inland warehouses. The Cincinnati market was pegged at $335-$340/st FOB in early December.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained in a broad range at $290-$330/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
Northern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market reportedly fell to $290-$300/st FOB St. Paul for 4Q tons, with reports of 2Q/river-open offers in the $320-$340/st FOB range. Delivered fill prices were pegged at $310-$345/st in the Northern Plains, with the low confirmed in South Dakota and the high in North Dakota.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Northeast remained at $340/st FOB East Liverpool, Ohio, and $340-$350/st DEL.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Eastern Canada widened to C$545-$575/mt FOB in early December, up C$20/mt at the high end of the range.
China:
Ammonium sulfate pricing showed high levels of volatility during the past two weeks. Last week, following a tender sale to Indonesia, the netback to China for caprolactam grade amsul was reported around $110/mt FOB. By Friday, however, and continuing into the beginning of this week, new deals were reported moving the price up to $120-$125/mt FOB.
The latest price came from a 10,000 mt auction by TCC. The export price is derived from the ex-plant price, but agreed upon by traders and producers.
Ammonium sulfate avoided the government’s restricted exports list due to its status as a byproduct, something the government is happy to ship out. Even though amsul is off the list, customs inspectors have reportedly been extra diligent in checking the quality of the product before allowing it to be loaded to a vessel, apparently ensuring that no one is slipping urea into the amsul cargoes.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate import prices rose 8%, to $165-$175/mt CFR from the week-ago $150-$165/mt CFR, as previous reports of length in the market have now given way to a lack of prompt availability. The market’s next loading window is due in second-half January, leading to concerns that tons may not arrive in time for safrinha application.
Prices continued to fall at Rondonópolis, however, where amsul was reported in the $295-$310/mt FOB ex-warehouse range, down from $300-$315/mt FOB last week.
January-November ammonium sulfate imports were steady at 4.3 million mt in 2022 and 2023, according to Trade Data Monitor. November imports of 588,000 mt were up 17% from 504,000 mt in November 2022, however, with China supplying 587,000 mt of the month’s tonnage.