U.S. Gulf:
The last done NOLA ammonium sulfate barge business continued to be reported in the $330-$340/st FOB range. Finding empty barges to load remained a problem.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was quoted at a solid $355-$375/st FOB in the region, with the low reported at Cincinnati and the upper end at Ottawa, Ill.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market edged up to $350-$370/st FOB St. Louis, with the Caruthersville market pegged at the $365/st FOB level at midweek.
Southern Plains:
Ammonium sulfate prices at Houston and Freeport, Texas, remained in the $320-$325/st FOB range, with the Catoosa/Inola market pegged at the $365/st FOB level in mid-September.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices ranged from $340-$370/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high in Arkansas. The market FOB Shreveport was quoted at the $365/st level at midweek.
Southeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices FOB Hopewell, Va., remained at $315/st for granular, $295/st for mid-grade, and $275/st for standard. Pricing in Florida was pegged at $305/st FOB or DEL for standard and $355/st FOB or DEL for granular, depending on supplier.
China:
The price for caprolactam grade amsul softened a bit as demand in Southeast Asia eased. Sources now put the market at $195-$205/mt FOB.
Traders said the shift in price is due to the usual ebb and flow of prices and not to any downward trend. One trader noted that Brazil continues to demand more amsul, keeping the price for all grades of the product from falling too much if regional demands are not sufficient to maintain current levels.
Brazil:
The price range at Paranagua tightened to $320-$340/mt CFR for granular amsul on reduced demand. Compacted amsul was also reported steady at $330/mt CFR at the port.The price in Rondonopolis remained flat at $400-$455/mt FOB ex-warehouse. The barter rate in Sorriso for 1 mt of ammonium sulfate remained at 60 bags of corn.
South Korea:
Trade Data Monitor reported January-August ammonium sulfate exports at 382,000 mt, up from 280,000 shipped out during the same period in 2020. The main buyers this year were Mexico at 107,000 mt and the U.S. at 79,000 mt.
August 2021 exports were down 7 percent, to 31,500 mt from 34,000 mt in August 2020. The main buyers this year were New Zealand at 15,000 mt and Mozambique at 10,000 mt.