US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market was unchanged at $270-$275/st FOB based on the last indications, with no new business confirmed during the week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Eastern Cornbelt was quoted at $310-$345/st FOB, up another $10/st from the prior week, with the low confirmed at river terminals in Illinois and the high at inland warehouses. The Cincinnati market ranged broadly at $315-$335/st FOB in late October, while pricing at Ottawa, Ill., was reported at $310/st for October-November, $320/st for December-January, and $330/st for February-March.
The granular ammonium sulfate market in the Great Lakes region was pegged at a firm $340-$345/st FOB Michigan terminals, up from the prior low of $315/st FOB, with delivered pricing confirmed at $340-$360/st in the state, depending on time of shipment.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing firmed to $310-$345/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in western Iowa.
Northern Plains:
The granular ammonium sulfate market in the Northern Plains reportedly edged up to $330-$345/st FOB and $320-$345/st rail-DEL for new sales.
Northeast:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Northeast strengthened to $340/st FOB East Liverpool, Ohio, and $337-$350/st DEL, up roughly $15/st from early October.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Eastern Canada firmed to C$545-$555/mt FOB, up from the prior C$530-$545/mt FOB range.
China:
Even with slow sales, producers continue to push for caprolactam grade amsul pricing at $170/mt FOB. Unfortunately for them, the market has continued to confirm pricing in the upper-$160s/mt FOB. A recent 8,000 mt amsul sale into the Philippines showed a netback just above $165/mt FOB, while other buyers in the area are convinced the price should slip further.
Trade Data Monitor put January-September amsul exports at 9.8 million mt, a 12% increase from the 8.8 million mt exported through the first nine months of 2022.
Third-quarter sales were steady year-over-year at 4 million mt, while September exports dipped to 1.4 million mt from the year-ago 1.8 million mt. Brazil remained China’s largest buyer with 833,000 mt, taking roughly 60% of the month’s exports.
Brazil:
Brazil ammonium sulfate prices remained stable at $210-$220/mt CFR, with bidding in the $195-$205/mt CFR range reportedly failing to transact. Players described a growing concern that delayed purchasing decisions could result in December product shipments arriving too late for the current application period.
Prices in Rondonópolis slipped to $325-$360/mt FOB ex-warehouse on forward supply concerns. Suppliers are anticipating delays in the arrival of Chinese cargoes in the first quarter of 2024, potentially impacting the availability of nitrogen for the corn safrinha season.