US Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate pricing continued to climb, fueled by firming nitrogen prices across the board. New barge indications were quoted at $310-$325/st FOB during the week, up from last week’s $300-$310/st FOB range, with the high reported for confirmed trades at midweek.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate in the Eastern Cornbelt continued to strengthen in the wake of firming ammonia and urea prices. Sources quoted the latest pricing at $350/st FOB Illinois River terminals and $360-$365/st FOB Cincinnati, reflecting a roughly $5-$10/st increase from last week.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to $345-$350/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with both the high and low confirmed at St. Louis during the week. In the Southern Plains, granular offers at Houston, Texas, reportedly jumped to the $340-$350/st FOB level, up from $325/st FOB in late February.
Great Lakes:
Granular ammonium sulfate offers in the Michigan market were pegged at $365-$370/st FOB and up to $400/st DEL in early March.
Northern Plains:
Delivered granular ammonium sulfate offers ranged broadly at $370-$430/st in the Dakotas, depending on supplier, up from the prior $340-$370/st DEL range. Terminal prices were also reported in a wide range at $335-$375/st FOB in the Northern Plains, depending on location and supplier.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing strengthened to $355-$380/st FOB and $365-$375/st DEL in the Northeast, up roughly $10-$20/st from mid-February.
Eastern Canada:
The ammonium sulfate market continued at C$545-$590/mt FOB in Eastern Canada, unchanged from last report.
Northwest Europe:
Suppliers reported steady liquidity for standard ammonium sulfate in Northwest Europe this week, with prices range-bound at last week’s level. Granular offers were heard at €215/mt FOB, equivalent to $230-$235/mt FOB.
China:
Sources in and out of China are now putting the caprolactam grade amsul price at $140-$145/mt FOB, with expectations of softer prices to come. Some buyers are already putting forward bids in the mid-$130s/mt FOB, one trader said, though no deals have been confirmed at that level so far.
One of the driving factors in the price drop is the steady decline in urea prices, said one trader. Another is a reluctance from several major international buyers to secure product in the current market. Many, including buyers in Brazil, are said to be waiting for China to restart exports of DAP and MAP. Once these phosphates are allowed to ship, sources said a number of buyers will be ready to add amsul tonnage to the vessel load.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate sellers have been unsuccessful in their efforts to lift ammonium sulfate prices to $190/mt CFR, sources said, leaving imports stable at $175-$180/mt CFR.
Facing limited demand, sellers intensified offers at Rondonópolis during the week. Negotiations were concluded down to $275/mt FOB ex-warehouse, sources said, $15/mt below last week’s $290/mt FOB floor, while other indications continued in the $280-$300/mt FOB range.