U.S. Gulf/Tampa:
Tampa ammonia prices for April continue at $545/mt CFR, with NOLA barges last done at $545/st FOB.
Price ideas for Tampa ammonia for May are mixed. While some argue for a rollover after the $100/mt surge in April, the news that the Waggaman plant in Louisiana will continue to be offline until mid-April will continue to crimp supplies. In addition, Nutrien continues to have two plants offline in Trinidad due to mechanical issues.
U.S. Imports:
February ammonia imports were down 13.8 percent, to 194,187 st from the prior-year 225,310 st. July-February volumes totaled 1.60 million st, 11.5 percent below the year-ago 1.81 million st.
U.S. Exports:
February ammonia exports fell 82.0 percent, to 6,589 st from the prior-year 36,664 st. Exports for the July-February period softened 13.5 percent, to 359,709 st from 416,005 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
With preplant ammonia movement running in high gear, sources said terminal pricing in Illinois and Indiana had firmed to $620-$635/st FOB, depending on location, up from earlier lows of $600-$615/st FOB on a spot basis. The top of the Eastern Cornbelt ammonia range remained at $650/st FOB Mount Vernon, Ind., and Henderson, Ky.
One Illinois contact said preplant ammonia demand was probably 85 percent complete in his trade area after a full week of heavy activity. “Truck availability is probably the biggest issue right now,” he said.
Western Cornbelt:
Sources said preplant ammonia demand was already starting to wind down in the region after a period of heavy movement in early April. Ammonia prices remained at $600-$615/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at Palmyra, Mo., and out of spot locations in Nebraska. Terminal pricing in Iowa ranged from $605-$615/st FOB.
California:
Calamco reportedly raised its ammonia postings again in California, with new April reference levels firming to $626/st DEL for anhydrous, up from the March 1 reference of $572/st DEL. Aqua ammonia postings also strengthened to $172/st FOB in California on April 1, up from $157/st FOB.
Pacific Northwest:
Ammonia pricing was pegged at a firm $650/st FOB Ritzville and Kennewick, Wash., up some $40-$50/st from last report, with rail-DEL tons reported in the $655-$680/st range in the region. Aqua ammonia was quoted at $170/st FOB in the region in early April.
Western Canada:
Ammonia pricing in Western Canada was reported in a broad range at C$950-$1,050/mt DEL for limited offers in early April, up from C$940-$980/mt DEL at last report.
Black Sea:
Buyers are arguing the ammonia price should not move off the current $450/mt FOB, while sellers are pushing for more.
So far, the main talks taking place are between Trammo and Ostchem over 10,000 mt to ship in the second half of April. Producers have been pushing for $470/mt FOB and up as the global ammonia market continues to surge higher. Sources said rumors began circulating late in the week that the two parties reached an accord at $460/mt FOB. However, no one was able to confirm that level as Green Markets went to press.
Middle East:
Ammonia remains tight in the area and the closure of SABIC-4 through the end of April is not helping the situation.The lack of any excess material beyond what is needed to cover contract tons has left no possible spot business to test the market price.
Northwest Europe:
Limited material from the major suppliers and strong demand from industrial buyers in Europe has pushed up the Northwest Europe price to $520-$530/mt C&F.
An additional boost in pricing came as sources reported sales out of Baltic ports in the upper-$460s/mt FOB. Even as the higher prices are reported, sources said no new contract price for April has yet been settled.
North Africa:
Demand from Morocco is keeping pressure on the ammonia market even as supplies remain tight. Sources said phosphate giant OCP is taking tons from whatever source possible to keep its production running.At the same time, North African producers, such as Algeria, report being sold out for the month of April.
Turkey:
Imports of ammonia during the first two months of the year were down 44 percent, to 134,000 mt from 239,000 mt during the same period last year.
According to Trade Data Monitor, the single largest supplier of ammonia to Turkey so far this year has been Russia with 96,000 mt. The next two suppliers are Ukraine with 19,000 mt, and Algeria with 17,000 mt.
February imports were down 40 percent, to 60,000 mt from 100,000 mt in February 2020. Russia supplied 40,000 mt of the February 2021 purchases.
Brazil:
Ammonia imports for March 2021 were reported at 32,000 mt, all from Trinidad, compared with 22,000 mt in March 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor.
The March figures brought the first-quarter total imports to 136,000 mt, a 62 percent increase over first-quarter 2020 of 84,000 mt. Algeria supplied 15,000 mt during the quarter, with the rest coming from Trinidad.