U.S. Gulf:
The market was called $400-$410/st FOB, up from the week-ago $385/st FOB. Sources said $400/st was quickly done as the week began, and that anyone wanting to buy would have to pay posted numbers at this point. Interoceanic (IOC) was referenced at $410/st FOB at NOLA.
U.S. Imports:
August ammonium sulfate imports totaled 95,816 st, off 6.0 percent from the year-ago 101,949 st. July-August volumes were up 7.5 percent, however, to 137,947 st from the year-ago 128,372 st.
Canada topped the July-August fertilizer year-to-date with 70,573 st, rising 8.8 percent from the prior-year 64,838 st. Material loading from Belgium totaled 30,527 st, a 0.5 percent increase from 30,385 st for the same period last year, while South Korean tons were noted at 22,046 st for the period, a contrast from zero tons sent during last year’s July-August window.
U.S. Exports:
Ammonium sulfate exports for the July-August period were up 56.0 percent, to 120,947 st from 77,508 st. Exports totaled 66,031 st for August, a 110.2 percent rise from 31,420 st in the prior year.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Sources quoted the ammonium sulfate market at $415-$455/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $25-$30/st from last report, with the latest reference price from IOC reported at $440/st FOB Ohio and Illinois River terminals.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market edged up to $435-$445/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high at Caruthersville, Mo. One Iowa contact reported that last sales firmly at the $440/st FOB level before prices were pulled at midweek.
Southern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was quoted at a firm $395/st FOB Freeport, Texas, at midweek. No current offers were confirmed at Catoosa/Inola, while new ammonium sulfate prices from IOC on Oct. 1 included $400/st FOB Houston and $460/st rail-DEL in the Southern Plains.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices ranged broadly in the region, from $380-$385/st FOB Memphis up to $445/st FOB Little Rock, Ark. New postings from IOC on Oct. 1 included $435/st FOB Delta terminals.
Southeast:
The last postings for ammonium sulfate from AdvanSix FOB Hopewell, Va., included the Sept. 20 list prices of $335/st for granular, $315/st for mid-grade, and $295/st for standard, but sources said those prices were withdrawn nearly two weeks ago.
Ammonium sulfate pricing in Florida was pegged at $325/st FOB or DEL for standard and $375/st FOB or DEL for granular, depending on supplier. IOC’s granular ammonium sulfate posting FOB Tampa firmed on Oct. 1 to $455/st.
China:
The price held even at $200-$205/mt FOB for caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate, but sources said pressure is building that could move the price up to $300/mt soon.
Plant closures because of energy cutbacks and environmental fines are cutting into the amsul supply. And while domestic supply is dwindling, sources said demand in Southeast Asia is remaining strong and Brazilian demand is stepping up.
Brazil:
Sources said ammonium sulfate was shunted to the back as the main focus in Paranagua was on urea and MAP, leaving the price at $320-$345/mt CFR. At least one seller, however, sensing the rising prices in urea, began quoting $400/mt CFR for product.
The Rondonopolis price is now pegged at $500/mt FOB ex-warehouse, up from the $400/mt FOB reported last week. Sources said the move on amsul came as prices for urea skyrocketed. Blenders often look to ammonium sulfate as a substitute for urea for the nitrogen content in their products.
Ammonium sulfate imports for the January-September 2021 period were reported at 2.5 million mt by Trade Data Monitor, representing a 45 percent increase from the 1.7 million mt imported during the same period in 2020.
Third-quarter 2021 imports showed an even more dramatic rise at 831,000 mt, up 79 percent from the 464,000 mt imported during the third quarter 2020.September 2021 imports were also higher, firming to 330,000 mt against the 212,000 mt imported in September 2020.