US Gulf:
The latest ammonium sulfate barge trades were reported in the $265-$270/st FOB NOLA range for January-February tons based on confirmed new business, up from last week’s $255/st FOB level, with sources citing tight nearby supply for the increase.
US Imports:
July-November ammonium sulfate imports firmed 50.0% year-over-year, to 424,189 st from 282,770 st. November imports were up 23.8%, at 50,238 st compared to the year-ago 40,585 st. Imports from Canada were noted at 216,874 st for July-November, ahead of 83,943 st from Russia and 58,123 st from Belgium.
US Exports:
Amsul exports for November stood at 55,608 st, down 37.5% from the year-ago 88,917 st. July-November exports totaled 306,490 st, falling 19.7% from the 381,510 st posted one year earlier. Exports to Peru totaled 78,055 st in July-November, while Canada moved into second place with 39,267 st. Brazil took 33,905 st, followed by Mexico with 30,506 st and 29,626 st to Uruguay.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate in the Eastern Cornbelt was pegged at $310-$330/st FOB, depending on location, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati and in Illinois on a spot basis. Michigan ammonium sulfate prices were pegged at the $335-$355/st DEL level, depending on time of shipment.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was unchanged at $300-$330/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the St. Louis market pegged in the $310-$320/st FOB range.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $285-$295/st FOB Houston, Texas, and $305-$325/st FOB Catoosa/Inola.
South Central:
The ammonium sulfate market remained in a broad range at $260-$325/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low confirmed in southern Mississippi and the high in Arkansas.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate remained at AdvanSix’s Dec. 18 reference levels, which included Hopewell, Va., pricing at $335/st FOB for granular, $305/st FOB for mid-grade, and $285/st FOB for standard grade. Lower levels were reported in Florida, however, with standard down to $260/st DEL and granular at $330/st FOB warehouses.
China:
Prices for caprolactam grade amsul bounced back dramatically, sources said, to $125-$130/mt FOB. One trader previously predicted that buyers might become more aggressive for Chinese ammonium sulfate in order to replace the urea that is being blocked from exiting the country.
Sources noted that the Chinese government did not include amsul on its restricted export list because it is a byproduct of other industrial operations, unlike urea. Amsul prices are expected to fluctuate as urea prices and demand shift in the area.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports were steady at $160-$170/mt CFR, while bids were reported around the $155/mt CFR mark. With ammonium sulfate maintaining a premium to urea on a nitrogen basis, sellers are attempting to follow the urea price higher.
The Rondonópolis market increased by $15/mt at the high end of the range, to $290-$320/mt FOB ex-warehouse from $290-$305/mt FOB, following the CFR market’s recent increases.
Ammonium sulfate imports in Brazil increased marginally year-over-year, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 5.1 million mt in 2023 from 5 million mt one year earlier, a 3% increase. China sent 4.9 million mt. December imports were 809,000 mt, up from 724,000 mt purchased last December, with 100% of the material supplied by China.