US Gulf:
The ammonium sulfate barge market firmed to $300-$310/st FOB, up from last week’s $290-$300/st FOB range, with the high confirmed for a brokered first-half March trade that was concluded late in the week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices moved to $340-$360/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up from last week’s $330-$350/st FOB range, with the low confirmed out of Illinois River terminals. The Cincinnati market was quoted at $350-$360/st FOB in late February.
Ammonium sulfate pricing in the Great Lakes region edged up to $345-$360/st FOB and $370/st DEL in the Michigan market.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to $330-$350/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis.
California:
Ammonium sulfate prices in California moved up again, climbing to $370-$395/st FOB from the prior $345-$355/st FOB range, depending on grade and location. The high was confirmed at French Camp for granular tons, with offers firming to $385/st FOB Lathrop, Woodland, Richvale, and Helm. Rail-DEL pricing was quoted at $360-$390/st in the state in late February.
Pacific Northwest:
The ammonium sulfate market remained at $330-$350/st FOB or DEL for the latest offers in the Pacific Northwest.
Western Canada:
The ammonium sulfate market in Western Canada firmed to C$490-$500/mt DEL, up from the prior C$475-$490/mt DEL range, depending on location and time of shipment.
Northwest Europe:
Standard ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe slipped to $156-$175/mt FOB, with market participants noting a subdued buyer appetite given lower feedstock prices.
China:
The price for caprolactam grade amsul remained at $145-$150/mt FOB, sources said. While producers are pressing for $155/mt FOB, buyers are reportedly pushing back hard and walking away from offers at that level.
A number of small lots sold to buyers in Southeast Asia carried netbacks in the upper-$140s/mt FOB. Chinese NPK producers are also looking to secure what tonnage they can for their product. At the same time, Brazil remains a steady client.
For now, producers are enjoying a stable price. Sources are expecting supply to outstrip demand by August, however, putting downward pressure on prices.
Thailand:
Amsul imports to Thailand totaled 20,000 mt for January, according to Trade Data Monitor, doubling the country’s January 2023 import total. China supplied 19,000 mt for the month.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports were stable at $175-$180/mt CFR. Attempts by sellers to lift the market to $190/mt CFR have been unsuccessful, sources said. Rondonópolis prices held steady in the $290-$305/mt FOB ex-warehouse range.