U.S. Gulf: Nothing new was reported last week, with Tampa numbers still to be decided for October. Sellers will continue to cite Trinidad cutbacks.
Eastern Cornbelt: The anhydrous ammonia market was quoted at $785-$800/st FOB regional terminals for prompt tons, with most sources touting the upper end of the range as the week advanced.
Drought conditions continued to improve in the region due to September rains. Most of Indiana was in moderate drought as of Sept. 18, with severe drought reported on the state’s southern edge and only abnormally dry conditions in the northwestern counties.
Most of Ohio also ranged from abnormally dry to moderate drought last week, with some areas of the state now classified as drought-free. Illinois remained the driest of the three states at mid-month, with drought conditions ranging from moderate to extreme. The driest areas were reported in northwestern Illinois.
Western Cornbelt: The prompt ammonia market was tagged at $750-$780/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt region, up again from last report, with the upper end of the range reported out of Missouri terminals. Delivered ammonia in the central Missouri market was quoted at $775-$780/st from southern production points.
Sources reported little in the way of fall fertilizer work last week. “Not a lot is hitting the ground, but some are filling in preparation,” said a Missouri contact. “Most dealers have product in the building that they’ll use first,” said another Iowa contact.
A Nebraska source said he anticipates fall volumes to be about 80 percent of normal, but a lot depends on rainfall. “If we’d get a good inch-and-a-half soaker, that would really free up fall ammonia,” he said. Without that moisture, fall ammonia movement remains uncertain in the region due to parched soil conditions.
Southern Plains: The anhydrous ammonia market was quoted at $700-$750/st FOB in the Southern Plains region, with the low reported out of regional production points on a spot basis and the upper end FOB Clay Center, Kan. One source said dealer reference pricing FOB Clay Center had firmed from $345/st to $355/st FOB on Sept. 19.
Parts of the region benefitted from heavy rains in recent weeks. One eastern Kansas source said his location has received 6-9 inches of precipitation since the remnants of Hurricane Isaac dumped on the area in early September. Some Colorado and Texas sources also talked of beneficial rains in their trade areas.
South Central: Ammonia pricing covered a wide range in the South Central region in mid-September.
The anhydrous ammonia market FOB Henderson, Ky., was quoted at $775/st for prompt tons and $805/st FOB for spring prepay. In the Memphis market, where volumes were limited because of the low river levels, sources quoted the prompt ammonia market as high as $820/st FOB last week.