U.S. Gulf:
The NOLA barge market for ammonium sulfate was quoted in the $295-$300/st FOB range, back down from the week-ago $300/st FOB. There appears to be a tug-of-war going on with domestic producers trying to move prices higher. IOC reposted its PCI product to $340/st FOB soon after the Southwestern Fertilizer Conference, up from the previous $300/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices continued to inch higher. The market was quoted at $335-$370/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low at Cincinnati and the high reported in the Indiana market and out of inland warehouses in Ohio. Other terminal quotes in early August included $347/st FOB East Dubuque and $355/st FOB Ottawa, Ill.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate prices remained at $325-$365/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis. Other spot prices in early August included $347/st FOB Camanche and $360/st FOB Caruthersville, while the market FOB St. Paul had reportedly firmed to as high as $370-$375/st FOB from some supplier.
Southern Plains:
Ammonium sulfate prices at Houston and Freeport, Texas, reportedly firmed to $320-$325/st FOB during the week, up from $285-$300/st FOB at last report, with new levels climbing to $340-$350/st FOB Catoosa/Inola. IOC’s postings for granular ammonium sulfate firmed on July 22 to $325/st FOB Houston and $380/st rail-DEL in the Southern Plains.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices were up $20-$30/st in the South Central region, ranging from a low of $325-$330/st FOB Memphis to a high of $365/st FOB Little Rock in early August. IOC’s July 22 postings included $365/st FOB Delta terminals, up $45/st from the company’s May 26 list prices.
Southeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices FOB Hopewell, Va., remained at $300/st for granular, $280/st for mid-grade, and $260/st for standard. Delivered pricing in Florida was pegged at $290/st for standard and $340/st for granular.
Sources said they expect higher postings in the near term, however, and some producers were already moving prices up. IOC’s July 22 granular postings included $385/st FOB Tampa, Fla., up a full $60/st from the prior list price.
China:
Ammonium sulfate supplies in China remain steady. Producers are pushing for $205/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul, but still cannot break the $200/mt FOB mark.
Demand from buyers in Southeast Asia is providing a lot of support for smaller quantities of various grades of ammonium sulfate. Larger global buyers such as Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey continue to take all they can and appear ready to pay whatever it takes to get what they need.
Indonesia:
January-July ammonium sulfate imports this year were up 106 percent in Indonesia, to 650,000 mt from 315,000 mt during the same period last year, according to Trade Data Monitor. The main supplier was China with 617,000 mt.
Second-quarter imports were also up, to 266,000 mt from 137,000 mt last year, and June 2021 imports of 124,000 mt were well ahead of the 36,000 mt imported in June 2020.In all periods, China dominated supplies.
Turkey:
Ammonium sulfate imports for the first six months of the year were up 116 percent, to 520,000 mt from 241,000 mt during the same period in 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor. Second-quarter imports were also up dramatically, to 255,000 mt from 90,000 mt in 2020. June 2021 imports were recorded at 37,000 mt against June 2020 imports of 26,000 mt.
Brazil:
The lower end of the delivered ammonium sulfate price tightened in Brazil. Sources reported the Paranagua price for granular product at $335-$345/mt CFR.Sources said even as the market tightened, there were fewer requests for product.
The Rondonopolis price range widened from last week, to $400-$454/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Sources said buyers are holding off on making new orders until they absolutely need the product. Distributors are also focusing on fulfilling orders rather than seeking out new deals.
There remains concern on all sides that once things pick up, there may not be enough trucks to handle the shipment of material from the ports to the distributors and then on to the final clients.
The barter rate for 1 mt of amsul is now reported at 27 bags of corn and 12 bags of soybeans, up from 26 bags of corn and 11 bags of soybeans last week.
Imports of ammonium sulfate in Brazil for the January-July period jumped 38.7 percent, to 1.9 million mt from 1.4 million mt during the same period last year, according to Trade Data Monitor. As usual, the bulk of the tonnage came from China at 1.5 million mt.
July imports were up about 110 percent, to 203,000 mt from 97,000 mt in July 2020. China accounted for 137,000 mt of the tons imported in July this year, followed by Belgium at 51,000 mt.