US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate market remained at a nominal $270-$275/st FOB, with no new business reported. Sources said some higher 2Q offers at upriver terminals would likely net back to roughly $315/st FOB NOLA, but no sales were confirmed and no buyers seem willing to book tons that far in advance, sources said.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Eastern Cornbelt was pegged at $300-$335/st FOB in late November, with the low confirmed at spot river terminals in Illinois and the high at inland warehouses.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium remained in a broad range at $290-$330/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa.
California:
The ammonium sulfate market in California was unchanged at $320-$350/st FOB and $350/st DEL, depending on grade and location, with the low reported at Lathrop, Woodland, and Richvale. The latest posting FOB Helm was steady at the $330/st FOB level in late November.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market softened to $285-$325/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest, with the low for standard grade and the high for granular.
Western Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices were quoted at C$480-$485/mt DEL in Western Canada for November-January tons.
China:
The new export policy covering urea and phosphate fertilizers does not apply to ammonium sulfate, sources said. Amsul was most likely left off the restricted list because it is seen as a byproduct, one trader noted. This will allow amsul producers to continue pushing out their product to buyers looking for nitrogen content, but without paying the higher prices often demanded by urea.
Even though urea will be restricted from China in 2024, sources expect amsul prices to continue following the global urea market. For now, that means a further drop in prices, with sources now putting caprolactam grade amsul at $132-$137/mt FOB.
Offers reported into a tender in Indonesia showed a netback to China of $100-$105/mt FOB. Traders said they were not aware of any deals concluded at that level, however, and producers dismissed the price as too low for the current market.
Indonesia:
Pupuk closed a tender for three 25,000 mt cargoes of caprolactam grade amsul. Sources said the lowest offered price was $120/mt CFR, for a netback to China of $100-$105/mt FOB. Even at this low price, one trader said Pupuk was pushing for an even better deal. At the same time, amsul producers disputed the price, saying it was too low for the current market.
Turkey:
Ammonium sulfate imports totaled 27,000 mt in October, Trade Data Monitor reported, down 37% from the 43,000 mt received in October 2022. China sent 15,000 mt, for 56% of the month’s imports, followed by Finland with 12,000 mt.
Thailand:
Thailand imported 259,000 mt of ammonium sulfate in January-October, according to Trade Data Monitor, off27% from the year-ago 356,000 mt. October imports were 28,000 mt, a slight increase from 25,000 mt in October 2022. China supplied the full October consignment.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate import prices fell to $150-$165/mt CFR, off from $150-$175/mt CFR at last report, with multiple transactions confirmed at the top of the range. Ammonium sulfate prices followed the urea market lower at Rondonópolis, to $300-$315/mt FOB ex-warehouse from $310-$320/mt FOB last week.