US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market firmed to $260-$270/st FOB based on limited business, up from the prior $245-$255/st FOB range, with the increase reportedly fueled by higher upriver terminal postings.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate started the week at $320-$325/st FOB river terminals in the Eastern Cornbelt. AdvanSix on July 23 announced a $20/st increase, however, with postings moving to $345/st FOB Upper Mississippi River warehouses and $340/st FOB Ohio river warehouses. The company said inland warehouses were at traditional premiums to river locations.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was pegged at $325-$345/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the upper end reflecting new postings from AdvanSix on July 23 out of Upper Mississippi River terminals.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $375-$405/st FOB in California, with the low reported at Richvale and Helm and the high at French Camp.
Pacific Northwest:
Ammonium sulfate dropped to a broad $295-$420/st FOB or DEL range in the Pacific Northwest, depending on grade and supplier, with the low reflecting WesternStandard postings from IRM effective July 12. IRM’s postings for WesternPremium and Tranzform moved on that date to $345/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate pricing in Western Canada firmed slightly to C$460-$475/mt DEL from the previous C$450-$460/mt range.
Northwest Europe:
Standard ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe were unchanged this week at $160-$170/mt FOB, with buyers still largely disinterested in fresh tons. Producers are reportedly well committed through the summer, leaving prices stable despite muted demand.
China:
Demand from both Southeast Asia and Chinese domestic NPK producers widened the price range at China. Tenders in the Philippines and Indonesia set netbacks in the upper-$130s/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul. At the same time, demand from domestic NPK producers and distant buyers such as Brazil is helping to stabilize the upper end of the range.
Buyers in Brazil will reportedly continue to face difficulties in securing Chinese amsul as long as the government maintains its restrictions on fertilizer exports. One trader explained that because it is difficult to load a large vessel with only amsul, smaller lots – up to 10,000 mt – are often included in shipments of MAP or urea on large vessels.
With no urea shipments allowed in large quantities, piggybacking on phosphate shipments is the only option available. Unfortunately for amsul buyers, phosphate exports are also limited from China, though not to the same degree as urea.
China’s restrictions on urea exports have helped amsul exports. Trade Data Monitor reported January-June ammonium sulfate shipments at 6.5 million mt, up 13% from the 5.8 million mt shipped in first-half 2023. Brazil remained the largest single buyer with 1.3 million mt, followed by Myanmar with 755,000 mt. Another 86 other countries took the remaining 68% of exports, with 35 countries purchasing 1,000 mt or less.
June exports were 1.2 million mt, a slight increase from 1.1 million mt in June 2023. Second-quarter exports were up 14% year-over-year, to 3.4 million mt from 3 million mt.
Southeast Asia:
Regional amsul demand is providing a steady price floor. The latest round of tenders from the Philippines and Indonesia indicated a netback to China in the upper-$130s/mt FOB.
Indonesia’s Pupuk is unhappy with current pricing levels, according to circulating reports. The Indonesian holding company is now trying to secure its amsul needs under a formula basis that would take the average of the posted Chinese FOB price and add a premium to cover handling and other costs incurred by traders.
The lowest bid for the premium was reported at $15/mt. A source noted, however, that shipping from China to Indonesia is currently $17-$18/mt. In addition to freight, the source described other handling costs, plus a small margin for profit, to be included. Some of the higher offers were said to include higher rates that would account for all of these costs, though no word on a potential award was reported from Indonesia.
Brazil:
Brazil granular ammonium sulfate was stable at last week’s $170-$180/mt CFR level. Though multiple bids were reported in the $160-$165/mt CFR range, no transactions were recorded at those levels.
Fertilizer purchases moved slowly at Rondonópolis, with most demand targeted for use in blends. Inland pricing dropped $15/mt at the top of the range, to $300-$305/mt FOB, with forward business noted as high as $315/mt FOB.
Limited availability from China could impact the softening market, however. Products shipped from China will require approximately three months to travel to Brazil, leaving August loadings to arrive in the fourth quarter. Calendar year-to-date fertilizer imports showed a reduction of nearly 8% compared to 2023, primarily due to a significant drop in June imports.
Sales of 20-00-20 increased for the 2025 second corn crop, with Rondonópolis pricing reported in the $390-$400/mt FOB range.