U.S. Gulf:
Most sources put the NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market back at a firm $300/st FOB, up from $295-$300/st FOB, and were awaiting news if prices would move up in light of the recent NOLA posting of $340/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Sources said the ammonium sulfate market in the Eastern Cornbelt was inching higher on the back of recent posting increases. While the low end of the range continued to be reported at $330-$340/st FOB river terminals on a spot basis, sources also confirmed a few new sales as high as $370/st FOB Illinois River terminals in the wake of IOC’s posted increase on July 22.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices were quoted at $325-$365/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis. IOC’s July 22 postings for granular ammonium sulfate included $365/st FOB St. Louis and $370/st FOB Upper Mississippi River terminals.
Northern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate was quoted at $325-$330/st FOB St. Paul, Minn., and moving up, while delivered offers ranged from $350-$390/st DEL in the region, up from earlier fill offers in the $315-$325/st DEL range. IOC’s new postings on July 22 included $370/st FOB Upper Mississippi River terminals, $390/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, and $390/st rail-DEL in the Northern Plains.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $300-$330/st FOB in the Northeast, with the low confirmed at Hopewell, Va., and the high at East Liverpool. Delivered pricing ranged from $345-$355/st in the Northeast.
Eastern Canada:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in Eastern Canada was quoted at C$485-$515/mt FOB in the region for limited supply, up C$26/mt at the low end of the range. Sources said they expect a fill program in early August.
China:
Prices remained stable for caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate at just under $200/mt FOB, even as producers argue for $210/mt FOB.
A deal this week to Atlas in the Philippines showed a netback of $195/mt FOB. Other deals were discussed in the area, but none topped $198/mt FOB. There were rumors of deals hitting $200/mt FOB, but these could not be confirmed.
Brazil:
The price for granular ammonium sulfate at Paranagua has moved up to $325-$345/mt CFR. Sources said there is a growing tension as supply struggles to meet demand. Reportedly, every buyer can still find material, but it is now taking more work to find the tons. Sources said the issue with supply appears to be connected to COVID-related supply chain disruptions.
The Rondonopolis price is steady at $410-$454/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Sources said they expect to see more interest in the product at the end of August, when demand for more NPKs picks up. The barter rates for 1 mt of amsul are pegged at 26 bags of corn or 11 bags of soy.
Thailand:
Ammonium sulfate imports in Thailand for the first half of the year were up 97 percent, to 279,000 mt from 124,000 mt during the same period last year, according to Trade Data Monitor. China was the main supplier at 217,000 mt, followed by South Korea at 55,000 mt.
June imports also surged higher, to 88,000 mt from 29,000 mt in June 2020. Second-quarter imports more than doubled, to 220,000 mt from 108,000 mt last year. China supplied 162,000 mt of the second-quarter imports this year.