U.S. Gulf:
Ammonium sulfatebarges remained flat at $585-$590/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $605-$640/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati for prompt tons and the high for spring prepay on the Ohio River. The prompt market FOB Ottawa was pegged at the $620/st level at midweek.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium sulfate pricing was pegged at $610-$630/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location, with the high in Iowa and the low confirmed at St. Louis.
Southern Plains:
The Houston granular ammonium sulfate market ranged broadly at $550-$600/st FOB in late February, depending on supplier, while pricing FOB Catoosa/Inola reportedly inched up to $630-$640/st FOB.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices continued to edge higher at some terminal locations. While the low end of the regional market remained at $590-$595/st FOB Memphis, the upper end had reportedly firmed to $630-$635/st FOB in Arkansas and up to $640/st FOB Shreveport and Ohio River terminals in Kentucky.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate postings from AdvanSix firmed $10/st on Feb. 8, with pricing at Hopewell, Va., moving to $560/st FOB for granular, $530/st FOB for mid-grade, and $510/st FOB for standard. Delivered tons in Florida were reported at $565/st for standard and $615/st for granular.
China:
Sources reported prices under discussion for caprolactam grade amsul as low as $205/mt FOB and as high as $225/mt FOB. Arguments for the higher price are based on calculations of sales late last week and earlier this week to Southeast Asian buyers.
Sources reported sales into the Philippines at $250-$260/mt CFR. With freight estimates of around $30/mt, the upper range is justified. The netback most often heard from these deals is $225-$230/mt FOB. The argument for the lower price, said one trade, appeared to be more related to expectations based on the growing quantity of amsul building up in the Chinese ports.
Traders said buyers in the region were not as eager to purchase as before because of falling urea prices. The rebound in pricing this week, however, could shift their interest again.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil moved up to $305-$330/mt CFR as part of a trend leading to stronger demand for the product.