US Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were pegged at $280/st FOB for the latest trades, unchanged from last week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices were sliding in the region. Recent offers out of Illinois River terminals were confirmed in the $320-$340/st FOB range during the week, depending on location, with the Cincinnati market pegged at $320-$325/st FOB. Delivered pricing in central Michigan was reported at the $385/st level for fall tons.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate slipped slightly to $335-$350/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices were under pressure in the Southern Plains. Recent offers were confirmed at $330-$340/st FOB, down sharply from the wide $345-$410/st FOB range reported previously, with low confirmed at Houston, Texas, and the upper end at Catoosa/Inola.
South Central:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices slipped to $320-$340/st FOB in the South Central region, down from the prior $335-$375/st range, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high in Arkansas. The latest offers out of Owensboro were quoted at the $330/st level.
“It seems like the lack of activity across the board is resulting in lower prices,” commented one regional contact.
Southeast:
The granular ammonium sulfate market in the Southeast was pegged at $300-$320/st FOB for new orders, with the low confirmed in Alabama and the high in Florida. The latest postings from AdvanSix FOB Hopewell, Va., included granular at $315/st FOB, mid-grade at $295/st FOB, and standard at $275/st FOB, up $20/st from the company’s Aug. 5-8 summer fill program.
China:
Sources reported caprolactam grade amsul prices in the low-$140s/mt FOB, with producers now asking upwards of $150/mt FOB. The price boost appears to have largely come from Brazilian demand rather than regional buyers. A recent tender by TCC showed prices at $142-$143/mt FOB.
The one exception is a tender from India for 20,000-25,000 mt of amsul, with the buyer reportedly targeting a netback of around $130/mt FOB. The tender closed on Aug. 28, but no details regarding offers or prices were available at press time.
Brazil:
Brazil granular ammonium sulfate prices were steady in the $180-$185/mt CFR range, though multiple sellers indicated prices at or above that range for October loading. Inland sales have yet to match the new CFR prices, however, with players noting transactions closer to a $170/mt CFR equivalent.
Rondonópolis prices moved up $10/mt, to $300-$310/mt FOB, reflecting a roughly 3% rise over the last four weeks amid a climate of steady demand and a favorable barter ratio for product used in blends. Amsul remains an attractive option for fertilizer blending, presenting a good short-term opportunity for buyers.
Negotiations for 20-00-20 remained active with prices noted around $385/mt FOB Rondonópolis, a 1% decrease from the previous week.