U.S. Gulf:
New NOLA ammonium sulfate barge pricing continued to move up, firming to $405-$415/st FOB from the week-ago $390-$405/st FOB range.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was steady at $460-$480/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location. In the Great Lakes region, Michigan sources pegged the market at $475-$490/st FOB, depending on location and time of shipment.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $450-$480/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis. The Caruthersville market was reported at $450/st FOB at midweek. Delivered pricing was quoted at $465-$480/st in the region.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing remained at $450-$460/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and Houston in late August.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate pricing was quoted at $440-$460/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high in Arkansas.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate prices FOB Hopewell, Va., remained at $450/st FOB for granular, $410/st FOB for mid-grade, and $390/st FOB for standard. Pricing in the Florida market was steady as well at $395/st FOB/DEL for standard and $490/st FOB/DEL for granular.
China:
Soft demand in Southeast Asia is pushing ammonium sulfate prices down. Pushing back is continued strong demand from Brazil and growing interest from European buyers for a substitute for urea in blending. Product could also be in shorter supply as plants take planned turnarounds.
Prices are quoted at $190-$200/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade amsul, with most of the business taking place in the middle of that range.
Thailand:
Imports of ammonium sulfate for January-July 2022 were reported at 275,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, down from the +309,000 mt imported during the same period in 2021. China was the main supplier at 224,000 mt.
July 2022 imports were reported at 60,000 mt, double the 30,000 mt imported during July 2021. China supplied 57,000 mt of the July 2022 product.
Turkey:
Imports of ammonium sulfate for January-July 2022 were reported at 731,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, up 26% from the 579,000 mt imported during the same period in 2021. China was the main supplier with 597,000 mt.
July 2022 imports were reported at 38,000 mt, down by more than a third from the 60,000 mt imported during July 2021. China was the sole supplier in July.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil edged upward to $280-$320/mt CFR. The higher prices were expected because of the rising urea prices. Additional price increases are also expected as Chinese producers take scheduled turnarounds.
Brazilian buyers are also facing some new competition from Europe. The high price of urea is causing some buyers to look for nitrogen substitutes. Amsul traditionally is used as a substitute for urea in blending once the urea prices get too high.
Rondonopolis also reacted to market forces, with prices now quoted at $390-$420/mt FOB ex-warehouse.