U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate prices continued to erode, with sources now calling the market $530-$550/st FOB, down from the week-ago $570-$620/st FOB.
U.S. Imports:
April ammonium sulfate imports softened 8.1%, to 124,629 st from 135,623st in the prior year. Imports moved 10.1% lower for July-April, to 780,402 st from the year-ago 867,934 st.
Canadian imports were counted at 395,576 st for July-April, ahead of Belgium at 220,814 st. South Korea followed with 80,579 st. Egypt added 36,367 st in April, that country’s first U.S. import logged during either the current or previous fertilizer year.
U.S. Exports:
April ammonium sulfate exports were noted at 30,520 st, a 39.4% decrease on the year-ago 50,392 st. Exports slipped to 500,604 st in July-April, down 3.7% from the year-ago 520,004 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was reported at $625-$655/st FOB in the region, down $5-$10/st, depending on location, with the Cincinnati market pegged at the $655/st FOB level during the week.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was pegged at $595-$640/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt at midweek, down from the prior week’s $620-$670/st FOB.
California:
Ammonium sulfate was quoted at $670-$715/st FOB in California. As with UAN, sources reported few new transactions to test the market.
Pacific Northwest:
Standard ammonium sulfate pricing remained referenced at the $620/st FOB or DEL level in the Pacific Northwest. Granular pricing ranged broadly at $660-$755/st FOB and $685-$760/st DEL, depending on supplier.
Western Canada:
The Western Canada ammonium sulfate market was quoted at C$900-$925/mt DEL for the last prompt offers. No summer fill program has been announced in the region yet.
“There is some trading of product between retailers,” commented one regional source. “Not much demand for ammonium sulfate fill yet, partially because many retailers have carryover and they want to turn that first.”
China:
Sources said the price for caprolactam-grade amsul remains under pressure as urea prices soften. Buyers are finding it less necessary to look to ammonium sulfate purchases as a replacement for urea.
South Korea:
Exports of ammonium sulfate for January-May 2022 were down significantly, according to Trade Data Monitor. Exports so far this year were reported at 98,000 mt, down 64% from the 275,000 mt exported during the same period of 2021.The main buyers of South Korea amsul were Mexico with 55,000 mt and the U.S. with 27,500 mt.
May 2022 exports were barely visible at 142 mt, compared to the 85,000 mt exported in May 2021. Japan took the limited tons sold.