US Gulf:
The latest NOLA ammonium sulfate barge business was reported at the $385-$390/st FOB level, down $5/st from last week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $415-$435/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Illinois River locations and the high in Ohio.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $410-$430/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the upper end in Nebraska.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market dropped to $377-$407/st FOB in California, down from the prior $410-$460/st FOB range, with the low reported at Richvale and Helm the high at French Camp. Bagged product was reported at the $520/st level FOB Stockton during the week.
Pacific Northwest:
Ammonium sulfate was pegged at $365-$420/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest, depending on grade and supplier.
Western Canada:
The latest ammonium sulfate offers in Western Canada slipped to C$510-$520/mt DEL for prompt June tons, well below the last spring pricing at C$580-$600/mt DEL.
China:
Prices in China surged this week on reports of reduced output, stronger domestic and international demand, and higher urea prices. Initial pricing ideas ranged from a low of $160/mt FOB to a high of $190/mt FOB. In the end, the market settled at $175-$185/mt FOB, with every likelihood that prices will hit $200/mt FOB in the week ahead.
The increased domestic demand came from NPK producers seeking nitrogen content. By the end of May and through the first week of June, domestic urea prices were rising too far for NPK producers to accept. They turned to amsul just as Brazil stepped up demand for use in its own NPK production and as several plants went down for routine maintenance.
Neither the jump in pricing nor the limited available tonnage are expected to inspire any urea-style export restrictions. Ammonium sulfate has not been included in any of the export restrictions placed on fertilizers.
Southeast Asia:
Atlas Fertilizer, of the Philippines, called a tender for 8,000 mt of caprolactam grade amsul. The tender was slated to close on June 14.
Indonesia’s Pupuk Holdings has yet to reveal any numbers in its 35,000 mt caprolactam grade amsul tender. The tender called for June deliveries to three different ports, including 20,000 mt to Gresik, 5,000 mt to Palembang, and 10,000 mt to Jakarta.
Brazil:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices moved up 9.6% in Brazil, to $195-$205/mt from $180-$185/mt CFR at last report, following both the rising urea market and higher ammonium sulfate prices reported in China. Rondonópolis prices remained stable at $305-$315/mt FOB, however.
January-May ammonium sulfate imports firmed 5% year-over-year, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 1.3 million mt from 1.2 million mt during the same period in 2023, with China supplying 1.2 million mt. May imports stood at 206,000 mt, a 5% increase from the 186,000 mt received in May 2023.