U.S. Gulf: Barge prices were harder to gauge, with more disagreement. While some put recent trades in the $480-$490/st FOB range, others argued that they have slipped to the $470s/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt: The potash market in the Eastern Cornbelt region was steady at $525-$535/st FOB, depending on grade and location. Sources tagged the Cincinnati market at the $530/st FOB level at mid-month.
Western Cornbelt: Potash pricing continued to slip in the region. The low end of the granular potash range was quoted at $510-$525/st FOB in Iowa on a spot basis, while dealer reference levels in the Missouri market remained at $535/st FOB for red and $542/st FOB for white granular tons.
Northern Plains: Potash pricing was slipping in the Northern Plains. Minnesota sources pegged the warehouse market as low as $515/st FOB for granular potash last week, with delivered tons reported in the $525-$535/st level in central North Dakota.
Northeast: Granular potash was generally quoted at the $540/st mark FOB regional warehouses, with rail-delivered tons quoted at $560/st in the Northeast.
Eastern Canada: Potash pricing out of Ontario warehouses had reportedly slipped to $610/mt FOB for red granular and $620/mt FOB for white granular tons. Sulfate of potash (SOP) was steady at $830/mt FOB in Ontario.
The K-Mag market was tagged at $495/mt FOB regional warehouses, and remained in tight supply.
Brazil: Uralkali has raised its price to buyers in Brazil to $550/mt CFR, starting in May, from the current $520/mt. The company said Brazil has depleted its inventories and is actively buying now. Quizzed by analysts, the company said the price could go up as high as $580/mt CFR this fall as Brazil can afford this price, but that would depend on intervening market factors, including international demand and pricing to other customers.