U.S. Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges remained in the $400-$420/st FOB range, though there were unconfirmed reports of a trade at the $395/st FOB level. Some sources saw that as a guidepost for the next round of business.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices were pegged at $460-$495/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Ottawa, Ill. The Cincinnati market was reported at $480-$495/st FOB at midweek.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was reported at $470-$485/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis. In the Northern Plains, the Sioux City, Iowa, market was pegged at $495/st FOB, down from $615/st FOB in June.
Southern Plains:
Ammonium sulfate pricing FOB Houston was reported at $450-$460/st FOB, down $100/st from prompt offers in late June. New pricing levels FOB Catoosa/Inola, Okla., slipped to $475-$485/st FOB at mid-month.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate pricing was quoted in a broad range at $455-$575/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high out of Arkansas terminals.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate postings from AdvanSix FOB Hopewell, Va., remained at $670/st for granular, $630/st for mid-grade, and $610/st for standard. Pricing in the Florida market dropped to $600/st FOB or DEL for standard and $650/st FOB or DEL for granular.
China:
Prices remained steady, but with lots of talk of lower levels to come. Buyers are keeping an eye on amsul because its export is not restricted by the Chinese government as is urea. For blenders, having ready access to a major nitrogen product at relatively reasonable rates is very welcomed. So far, only the economic slowdown with its accompanying drop in industrial output is a point of concern for regional buyers.
Rumors keep circulating that Beijing may soon move to include ammonium sulfate on its list of restricted exports. However, sources said nothing specific has come from the government confirming these rumors.
Exports of ammonium sulfate during the first half of the year were reported at 4.8 million mt by Trade Data Monitor. This is up about 4% from the 4.6 million mt exported during the first semester of 2021. Brazil, Turkey, and Vietnam accounted for 1.8 million mt of the total.
Second-quarter 2022 exports matched the 2021 exports for the same time period at 2.4 million mt. June 2022 exports were reported at 825,000 mt, up from the 694,000 mt exported during June 2021. Of the 50 buying countries, Brazil alone accounted for 27% of the export market with 226,000 mt.
South Korea:
Ammonium sulfate exports for the first half of the year were reported at 126,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, down 61% from the 320,000 mt exported during the same period in 2021. Mexico received 83,000 mt of the South Korean amsul during the first semester of 2022, followed by the U.S. with 27,500 mt.
Second-quarter 2022 exports were reported at 45,000 mt, down dramatically from the 138,000 mt exported in April-June 2021. June 2022 exports were reported at 28,000 mt, down from the June 2021 exports of 45,000 mt.
Brazil:
The landed ammonium sulfate price in Brazil shifted slightly to $310-$320/mt CFR, with the upper end of the range coming down as prices soften. The Rondonópolis price was reported unchanged at $430-$500/mt FOB ex-warehouse.