US Gulf:
NOLA ammonium sulfate barges were reported in the $400-$410/st FOB range, up from the week-ago $400-$405/st FOB.
US Imports:
July ammonium sulfate imports were reported at 44,155 st, rising 4.8% from the July 2021 total of 42,131 st. Imports from Belgium were counted at 30,349 st for July, ahead of Canada’s 13,461 st, and 238 st from the Netherlands.
US Exports:
Ammonium sulfate exports totaled 22,628 st for July, a 58.8% decline from 54,916 st recorded in July 2021.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was steady at $460-$480/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location. Cincinnati pricing remained in the $465-$480/st FOB range at mid-month.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing was unchanged at $450-$480/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis.
Northern Plains:
Sources reported a slight increase to ammonium sulfate prices in the Northern Plains, with the market firming to $450-$465/st DEL, up from $430-$445/st DEL. Pricing on an FOB basis remained at $465-$495/st, with the low in Minnesota and the high at Sioux City, Iowa.
Northeast:
Delivered granular ammonium pricing in the Northeast remained at $490-$515/st in mid-September. Terminal prices were steady at $455-$485/st FOB in the region, depending on location.
China:
Ammonium sulfate prices in China moved up on additional demand from Europe and steady demand from Brazil. Sources said deals were done at $220-$230/mt FOB for standard caprolactam amsul. As the week ended, new deals showed sales more in the upper end of the range.
Brazil:
International traders were quoting the low end of the Brazil market at $290/mt FOB and the high at $310/mt FOB. Brazilian sources, however, called the market tighter at $300-$320/mt CFR for granular amsul.
Sources have begun to express concern about the market. Increased demand from Europe for amsul as a substitute for urea in blending, along with reduced output from China as production wanes, could lead to higher prices for buyers used to having low-cost amsul readily available.
Rondonopolis pricing remained steady at $420-$440/mt FOB ex-warehouse.
South Korea:
Ammonium sulfate exports for January-August 2022 were reported at 190,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor, roughly half of the 382,000 mt exported during the same period in 2021. Three countries took nearly all of the tonnage from South Korea so far this year. Mexico bought 83,000 mt, the US purchased 59,000 mt, and New Zealand took 41,000 mt.
August 2022 exports were reported at 46,000 mt, up by almost half from the 32,000 mt exported during August 2021. The month’s sales were divided between the US, taking 31,000 mt or 67% of the exports, and New Zealand, which took 32% at 15,000 mt.