US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market dropped to $200-$220/st FOB for the latest trades, down from last week’s $230-$250/st range.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $270-$285/st FOB and $280-$290/st rail-DEL for the last fill offers in the Eastern Cornbelt. AdvanSix confirmed that it is raising its granular ammonium sulfate price to $290/st FOB Midwest river terminals, effective July 24, with inland warehouses priced at a traditional premium to the river.
Western Cornbelt:
The last ammonium sulfate pricing was reported at $270-$310/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location, with the low reflecting the prior week’s fill offers from AdvanSix. The company confirmed that its granular postings in the Midwest would firm to $290/st FOB river terminals on July 24, with inland warehouses at a traditional premium to river terminals.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate was reported at $330-$370/st FOB for the latest offers in the Southern Plains, with the low at Houston and the high confirmed at Catoosa/Inola.
South Central:
Granular ammonium sulfate slipped to $270-$310/st FOB terminals in the South Central region following the previous week’s fill program offers, depending on location.
Southeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $350-$405/st FOB in the Southeast, depending on supplier, with standard grade pegged at the $280/st FOB or DEL level for the last confirmed offers in the Florida market.
China:
Strong demand from Brazilian buyers and domestic compactors looking to feed the Brazilian orders continued to push prices higher. Sources pegged caprolactam-grade amsul at $120-$130/mt FOB. Other grades used by compactors have seen similar price increases.
As long as urea prices remain strong and demand from Brazil holds firm, Chinese sources expect steady price growth to continue.
South Korea:
Trade Data Monitor reported first-half 2023 ammonium sulfate exports at 84,000 mt, down from the year-ago 126,000 mt, while second-quarter exports of 38,000 mt were off 16% from the 45,000 mt recorded in April-June 2022.
The US took 25,000 mt of South Korean amsul in 2Q, followed by New Zealand with 12,000 mt. June exports were pegged at 12,000 mt, off from 28,000 mt in June 2022, with New Zealand taking the full 12,000 mt.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Brazil moved up $10-$15/mt, climbing to $190-$195/mt CFR on strong demand. In Rondonopolis, prices firmed to $305-$335/mt FOB ex-warehouse in the wake of urea price increases.