US Gulf:
It was another quiet week for NOLA ammonium sulfate, with no new business reported to move the market from the longstanding $270-$275/st FOB range.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate in the Eastern Cornbelt was unchanged at $300-$330/st FOB, depending on location and time of shipment, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati, Ottawa, Ill., and LaSalle, Ill., for December-January tons. Michigan prices were pegged at $320-$340/st FOB and $345-$355/st DEL in late December.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $300-$330/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market was unchanged at $320-$350/st FOB and $350/st DEL for the latest offers in California, with the low reported at Lathrop, Woodland, and Richvale. The last posting FOB Helm was steady at the $330/st FOB level in late December.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market was steady at $290-$330/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest, with the low for standard grade and the high for granular.
Western Canada:
The ammonium sulfate market in Western Canada was pegged at C$470-$480/mt DEL for the latest business, down from the prior C$480-$485/mt DEL range.
China:
Ammonium sulfate remains off the list of restricted exports in China. Buyers, such as NPK blenders who might have otherwise bought urea, are now looking for amsul to cover their nitrogen needs.
Amsul production is down, even as sources report rising demand due to reduced industrial output in China. The combination has moved prices up once again, with sources now calling the market $115-$120/mt FOB for caprolactam grade product.
China exported 12.9 million mt of ammonium sulfate in January-November, according to Trade Data Monitor, up 15% from the 11.2 million mt shipped one year earlier. Brazil led buyers with 1.5 million mt. November exports were 1.5 million mt, up from 1.1 million mt in November 2022.
South Korea:
Ammonium sulfate exports declined in January-November, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 157,000 mt from the year-ago 234,000 mt. November exports totaled 16,000 mt, falling from the 28,000 mt shipped last November.
Brazil:
Brazil ammonium sulfate prices were noted at $155-$165/mt CFR, down from $160-$175/mt CFR at last report. Prompt offers were reported at $175/mt CFR, but no transactions were confirmed at that level. Rondonópolis prices were stable at $295-$310/mt FOB ex-warehouse.