U.S. Gulf: While some players continue to argue that nitrate barges are hard to find, others say recently loaded cargoes went in the $365-$375/st FOB range. There was no indication last week that the explosion at the El Dorado plant (see front page) has had much impact on AN prices, at least at NOLA. That could certainly change as more word comes on the timeline for the repairs at the facility.
Sources did say that those that might pull from El Dorado were now knocking on doors and looking for it elsewhere. Supplies in general continued to be called tight and hard to find.
Imports were off 3 percent for the July-March period, to 542,230 st from the year-ago 557,587 st. For March, however, they were up 76 percent, to 59,305 st from the year-ago 33,729 st.
Western Cornbelt: The ammonium nitrate market was steady at $480-$490/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, and in very tight supply. A Nebraska contact quoted delivered ammonium nitrate at the $515/st level to his location.
Southern Plains: The ammonium nitrate market remained solidly at the $480/st mark FOB Catoosa, Okla. Sources said that price should stay firm due to the ammonium nitrate supply impact resulting from the explosion at the El Dorado plant.
South Central: Ammonium nitrate pricing in the South Central region was down slightly from last report, with the terminal market pegged at $450-$460/st FOB and in tight supply.
Southeast: Ammonium nitrate was quoted at the $460/st mark FOB Tampa.