U.S. Gulf/Tampa: The market remained quiet last week except for continued speculation that prices would be up in June, due in part to Trinidad gas curtailments. Add Koch to the list of Trinidad producers – PotashCorp, Yara, CF (see front page) – that are looking to take advantage of low-cost North American natural gas. And a Trinidad ammonia buyer, Mosaic, is looking to build a plant too.
U.S. anhydrous ammonia imports were down 24 percent in March, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, to 576,085 st from the year-ago 753,543 st. July-March imports were off 7 percent, to 5.42 million st from 5.81 million st.
Eastern Cornbelt: The anhydrous ammonia market ranged from $690-$730/st FOB Illinois terminals, depending on location, with the low quoted out of the E. Dubuque market. Some terminals remained out of tons last week. Ammonia pricing in the Indiana market was quoted at $740-$750/st FOB and $740-$755/st DEL from Oklahoma production points.
Wet conditions in Illinois slowed the corn sidedressing pace at mid-month, but sources in southern Indiana said some growers there are already nearly finished with sidedress applications of UAN and ammonia on corn.
Western Cornbelt: The anhydrous ammonia market remained at $640-$690/st FOB regional terminals for prompt tons, with the low quoted out of Nebraska terminals on a spot basis.
Several sources talked of brisk sidedress movement on corn last week. Sidedress activity was underway in all three states by mid-May, and even winding down in parts of southern Missouri. Sources reported extremely dry conditions in western Nebraska and southern Missouri, however.
Southern Plains: The anhydrous ammonia market in the Southern Plains region remained at $570-$600/st FOB regional production points, depending on location, with the lower numbers quoted in western Oklahoma and Texas. Kansas sources pegged the pipeline terminal market at $590-$605/st FOB Conway, Kan.
Sources reported minimal ammonia movement in the region, but tons were reportedly being pulled from regional production points for sidedress demand in the Eastern Cornbelt.
South Central: Demand for anhydrous ammonia was over in the South Central region. Sources quoted the prompt market at $690/st FOB Memphis, Tenn.