U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were reportedly stable at $675-$695/st FOB.
U.S. Exports:
February ammonium sulfate exports were down 71.9 percent year-over-year, to 16,358 st from 58,236 st. July-February exports fell 5.7 percent, to 419,358 st from the prior year’s 444,472 st total.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to $720-$760/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $5-$10/st, depending on location, with the low end of the range reported at Cincinnati. Postings from AdvanSix in Illinois remained at $740-$745/st FOB and $750/st DEL for granular, with mid-grade referenced at $680/st FOB and $690/st DEL.
Western Cornbelt:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $705-$740/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. AdvanSix’s April 1 granular ammonium sulfate postings included $755/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa, with rail-DEL tons in Iowa posted at $750/st for granular and $690/st for mid-grade.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market was quoted at $670-$700/st FOB in California, up $15/st at the top of the range, with the low reported at Lathrop and the high reflecting new granular postings from some suppliers.
Pacific Northwest:
Standard ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $620/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest, based on the last postings from IRM on March 15. Granular pricing ranged broadly at $670-$755/st FOB and $670-$760/st DEL, depending on supplier, with the high end of both ranges reflecting a $50/st increase from last report.
Western Canada:
The Western Canada ammonium sulfate market was edging higher, with reports of new offers climbing to C$950/mt DEL for limited tons, up from a range of C$875-$925/mt DEL in late March.
China:
Sources said prices were all over the place for standard caprolactam-grade amsul. Some deals were reported close to $400/mt FOB, while others were quoted at $350/mt FOB. A couple of traders said there was also talk of $320/mt FOB.
Limited buying interest in Southeast Asia put downward pressure on prices for small lots. At the same time, demand from Brazil helped fill larger vessels with mixed varieties of amsul at higher prices.
Sources are comfortable with the $350-$400/mt FOB range, but many noted that the trend is to even lower prices.
Brazil:
Prices came down, and the range widened to $430-$480/mt CFR for granular amsul in Brazil. The price move came in tandem with lower urea prices.Rondonopolis dropped to $575/mt FOB ex-warehouse as buyers look to take advantage of falling urea prices to push amsul prices even lower.
Ammonium sulfate imports for the first quarter were reported by Trade Data Monitor at 869,000 mt, up 14 percent from the 762,000 mt imported during the first three months of 2021.China, as usual, dominated the market, sending 703,000 mt in January-March.
March 2022 imports were up slightly at 438,000 mt, compared with March 2021 imports of 406,000 mt.