U.S. Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market spanned a broader range during the week. While imports continued to be called $200-$205/st FOB, domestic product was reported to have achieved numbers as high as 220/st FOB. AdvanSix is now posted at $235/st FOB.
U.S. Imports:
August ammonium sulfate imports were up 30 percent, to 24,259 st from the year-ago 18,729 st. July-August imports were up 61 percent, to 65,898 st from 40,964 st.
U.S. Exports:
August ammonium sulfate exports were down 25 percent, to 87,014 st from the year-ago 116,381 st. July-August exports were up 34 percent, however, to 186,961 st from 139,502 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
New granular ammonium sulfate postings from AdvanSix on Oct. 8 included $270/st FOB Granite City, Ill; $275/st FOB East Dubuque, Ill., and Prairie du Chien, Wisc.; and $280/st FOB Danville, Ill., and Amherst Junction, Wisc. Those levels reflect a $15/st increase from AdvanSix’s Aug. 31 postings.
Mid-grade postings from AdvanSix also firmed $15/st on Oct. 8, moving to $240/st FOB Danville and Byron, Ill. The company’s rail-DEL postings in Illinois and Wisconsin moved up as well, to $285/st for granular and $250/st for mid-grade.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was reported at $240-$260/st FOB in the region, up $5/st from last report, with the low confirmed at Caruthersville. Rail-DEL tons were pegged at the $265/st level in the Iowa market.
AdvanSix announced a new price increase for ammonium sulfate in the Midwest, effective Oct. 8. The company’s granular postings firmed $15/st, moving to $270/st FOB Roseport, Minn., $285/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, and $285/st rail-DEL in Iowa and Minnesota east of Interstate-35. Mid-grade postings from AdvanSix also firmed $15/st on Oct. 8, moving to $245/st FOB Roseport and $250/st rail-DEL.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing had firmed to $230-$240/st FOB in the Southern Plains, with the low at Houston and Freeport, Texas, and the upper end at Catoosa/Inola.
South Central:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was quoted at $235-$240/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low at Memphis and the upper end out of Arkansas River terminals.
Southeast:
New ammonium sulfate postings from AdvanSix FOB Hopewell, Va., reportedly include granular at $240/st, mid-grade at $220/st, and standard at $185/st. Sources quoted delivered granular in the $260-$270/st range in the Southeast, depending on location, with standard grade reported at $195-$205/st DEL in the Florida market.
China:
The rising price of urea in the global market is beginning to have an impact on the ammonium sulfate market. Sources said more suppliers are looking to push the price to $125/mt FOB.
Besides the influence of the general nitrogen market, sources said more buyers are issuing inquiries for caprolactam-grade amsul instead of their usual steel-grade. Sources point to the continued downward projections of steel output in China as the main cause of fewer tons of steel-grade amsul being available on the open market.