U.S. Gulf: While some were still calling business at $370/st FOB, most were in agreement that product was very hard to find. So hard to find, in fact, that one deal last week was reported to have been struck at high as $435/st FOB. Sources also indicated that some inland prices have moved up and reflect this higher trade.
And as indicated by the DOC, imports so far this year are off, and sources tell Green Markets that domestic producers – the two that remain – are deluged.
February ammonium nitrate imports were off 43 percent, to 68,037 st from the year-ago 118,900 st. July-February imports were off only 8 percent, to 482,925 st from 523,858 st.
Western Cornbelt: Ammonium nitrate pricing in the Western Cornbelt was ratcheting up in the wake of higher urea and UAN values. Sources tagged the nitrate market in the $450-$480/st FOB range in the region last week, with the low reported in Iowa and the upper end in the Missouri market. Sources also quoted a $480/st FOB level out of the Tulsa, Okla., market late in the week.
California: CAN-17 was unchanged at $300-$320/st FOB in California, depending on location, with good movement reported. No current prices were reported for ammonium nitrate in the state.
Pacific Northwest: Ammonium nitrate was steady at $424/st DEL in Montana. CAN-17 was unchanged at $291/st FOB Kennewick, Wash.