US Gulf:
Although no new business was confirmed during the week, sources quoted the NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market at $270-$275/st FOB for new business based on current warehouse sales. AdvanSix raised its NOLA posted price on Oct. 13 to $295/st FOB, matching the Sept. 19 NOLA posting from Interoceanic.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market remained at $285-$335/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location, with low confirmed out of spot Mississippi River terminals. The Cincinnati market was pegged in the $320-$335/st FOB range for producer tons at mid-month. Midwest postings from AdvanSix on Oct. 13 firmed to $325/st FOB river warehouses.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $295-$310/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at St. Louis. AdvanSix raised its postings on Oct. 13 to $325/st FOB river warehouses in the Midwest.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate jumped to $300-$325/st FOB for the last confirmed business in the Southern Plains, up from the prior $290-$295/st FOB range, with both the high and low reported at Houston. The Catoosa/Inola market was quoted at the $305/st FOB level at mid-month.
South Central:
The ammonium sulfate market was pegged in a broad range at $230-$320/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low confirmed in southern Mississippi and the high in Arkansas.
Southeast:
AdvanSix on Oct. 11 announced higher pricing for ammonium sulfate. Effective Oct. 13, postings FOB Hopewell, Va., strengthened to $320/st for granular, $290/st for mid-grade, and $270/st for standard, up $15/st from the previous list prices.
Rail-DEL pricing was pegged at the $340/st level in Florida for granular tons, while standard grade remained in the $230-$260/st range FOB Florida warehouses.
China:
No changes were reported in the spot price for caprolactam grade amsul, leaving the market in the low-$170s/mt FOB. Sources noted increased pressure to return the price to the $160s/mt FOB, however.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports were stable at $215-$220/mt CFR, with limited transactions reported.
While imported ammonium sulfate references held firm, the Rondonopolis range expanded to $320-$345/mt FOB ex-warehouse from the week-ago $330/mt FOB. Following the softer urea trend, some sellers reduced prices, while changes to amsul export regulations in China caused others to predict a dip in local supply, triggering firmer offers.
Brazil ammonium sulfate imports stood at 2.8 million mt in January-September, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 9% decrease from the 3.1 million mt recorded one year earlier. China supplied 2.6 million mt.
Third-quarter imports were 1.3 million mt, up 18% from the 1.1 million mt received in July-September 2022, while September imports ticked up to 546,000 mt from the year-ago 543,000 mt.