US Gulf:
The ammonium sulfate barge market remained at $220/st FOB NOLA for the last confirmed trades, though sources speculated that any new business would likely be at the $255/st FOB level. Interoceanic’s Aug. 28 postings included NOLA at $255/st FOB for August-October shipments and $265/st FOB for November-December.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $285-$310/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market remained at $275-$300/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. In the Southern Plains, the Houston, Texas, market was pegged at the $270-$275/st FOB level for prompt truckloads.
California:
Ammonium sulfate pricing in California was unchanged at $320-$330/st FOB and $350/st DEL for the latest offers.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $280-$300/st FOB and $290-$300/st DEL in the Pacific Northwest, depending on grade and location.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Western Canada were quoted at C$445-$460/mt DEL for September-November tons.
China:
Sources expect to see a steady increase in ammonium sulfate prices to match the rising urea market. For now, sources reported caprolactam grade amsul holding in the upper-$160s/mt FOB. Prices are expected to quickly move into the $170s/mt as the urea market reacts to the RCF tender and potential restrictions on Chinese urea exports, however.
Turkey:
Ammonium sulfate imports totaled 612,000 mt in January-July, according to Trade Data Monitor, down16% from last year’s 731,000 mt. August imports lifted to 475,000 mt from the year-ago 191,000 mt, with 447,000 mt coming from China.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate sentiment turned negative in Brazil on reports of an oversupplied market. With urea prices rallying, however, sellers revised landed prices to $210-$225/mt CFR, 26% above last week’s $170-$175/mt range. Some players expressed doubt that those prices will hold, while others argued that amsul values will be supported by the strength of the broader nitrogen markets.
Market players noted 12-14 Brazil-bound vessels loading from China in August. Multiple vessels were reported to have product available. International traders are expecting Brazilian amsul buyers to step up demand as urea prices move higher.
Rondonopolis ammonium sulfate prices moved up in line with urea, to $325-$365/mt FOB ex-warehouse from $295-$315/mt FOB last week.
Amsul imports totaled 2.3 million mt in January-August, Trade Data Monitor reported, up 11% from the year-ago 2.6 million mt. August imports were 475,000 mt, above the 191,000 mt reported in August 2022. China sent 447,000 mt.