US Gulf:
NOLA AS barges strengthened a bit to $325-$330/st FOB, up from the week-ago $320-$330/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Tightening supply reportedly pushed ammonium sulfate prices up slightly in the Eastern Cornbelt, to $375-$400/st FOB from the prior week’s $370-$390/st FOB range.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate inched up to $375-$400/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt as supplies become stretched, with the low at St. Louis and the high reported in Iowa.
California:
Ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $430-$465/st FOB in California, with the low for standard. Pricing for granular and/or premium grade ammonium sulfate fell in the $440-$465/st FOB range in the state, depending on supplier and location.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $370/st FOB/DEL for standard grade, with granular quoted at $400-$445/st FOB/DEL, depending on supplier and location.
Western Canada:
Pricing for ammonium sulfate in Western Canada slipped to C$510-$530/mt DEL in early May, down slightly from the prior C$520/mt DEL low.
China:
Business was limited for the week due to the May 1 Labor Day holiday. Plants and offices are not expected to be back to full operation until next week. Even with the limited opportunities to talk shop, sources said there were reports of higher prices being concluded out of China for caprolactam-grade amsul, but without confirmation. The new price range under discussion was put at $135-$140/mt FOB.
Sources pegged prices from the factory door at $113-$127/mt ex-plant, depending on location. This translates to an export price of $127-$137/mt FOB, which covers both pricing from last week and higher prices reported for the current week.
Brazil:
The Labor Day holiday in China limited the ability of buyers to secure additional tons of amsul. The lack of any new deals widened the range of price discussions to $180-$190/mt CFR.
Traders reported keeping a close eye on the urea market. Expectations of softer urea prices could lead to reduced demand for amsul in the blending process.
Rondonopolis reported a wide range at $295-$330/mt FOB ex-warehouse. The stronger inland urea market has buyers looking to amsul as a substitute in their blending systems. Just as the importers are watching the trends in the urea market, so too are the local distributors. For now, strong demand for urea is allowing amsul sellers to slip in and offer their product as a viable, cheaper substitute.
Turkey:
Trade Data Monitor reported ammonium sulfate imports at 304,000 mt for January-March, off40% from the year-ago 509,000 mt. March imports of 61,000 mt were down from 209,000 mt imported one year earlier. Chinese amsul accounted for 55% of the imported March product at 34,000 mt, while Belgium supplied the balance with 27,000 mt.
Thailand:
January-March ammonium sulfate imports were pegged at 44,000 mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, unchanged from the same period of 2022. March imports were noted at 30,000 mt, falling 18% from 37,000 mt purchased in March 2022. China supplied all of the March tonnage.