US Gulf:
The ammonium sulfate barge market went on a wild ride during the week, with new sales indicating a significant jump from the prior week on continued reports of tight supply.
The action started at midweek with a trade at $335/st FOB for last-half March through May delivery, up from the prior week’s $310-$325/st FOB range. Business then heated up on March 14, with new trades for March barges confirmed at $340/st FOB, $355/st FOB, and ultimately $360/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices continued to climb, fueled by new postings from AdvanSix and a surge in NOLA barge values. Sources pegged the regional market at $350-$385/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up $20/st from last week’s high, with some contacts speculating that new offers in the $380-$400/st FOB range are just around the corner.
AdvanSix on March 12 raised its granular ammonium sulfate posting in the Midwest to $375/st FOB river warehouses, with inland warehouses priced at traditional premiums to river locations.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market firmed to $345-$370/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, up $20/st from last week at the high end of the range.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing strengthened to $350-$365/st FOB in the Southern Plains, up from the prior $340-$350/st FOB range, with the low confirmed at Houston, Texas, and the high at Catoosa/Inola. Sources confirmed a “decent” amount of volume moving at those levels from both locations.
South Central:
The ammonium sulfate market strengthened to $320-$375/st FOB in the South Central region, depending on grade and location, up from the prior $290-$350/st FOB range, with the low confirmed in Alabama and the high in Arkansas.
Southeast:
Ammonium sulfate reference prices at Hopewell, Va., remained at $350/st FOB for granular, $330/st FOB for mid-grade, and $310/st FOB for standard.
China:
The China ammonium sulfate price steadied in the low-$140s/mt FOB, as suppliers reported limited product availability and ongoing firm demand. Chinese NPK producers and Southeast Asian buyers have been providing a steady market for the amsul producers.
Larger buyers, including some from Brazil, are reportedly waiting until April 1 to begin securing tons for export. At that time, said sources, MAP will also be available. These buyers typically combine amsul with other fertilizer products in larger vessels to secure better freight rates.
Turkey:
Turkey imported 169,000 mt of amsul in January, according to Trade Data Monitor, off 20% from the 211,000 mt reported one year earlier.China was Turkey’s sole supplier for the month.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate import prices pulled back 7.1% during the week, to $160-$170/mt CFR from the previous week’s $175-$180/mt CFR. Amsul purchases have been limited this offseason, with some buyers starting to request shipments in the third quarter.
Prices continued to fall in the Rondonópolis market. According to sources, the first negotiations for the 2025 second corn crop were closed as low as $270-$280/mt FOB ex-warehouse, while most other benchmarks indicated pricing at a $295/mt FOB high, off $5/mt from one week earlier.
January-February ammonium sulfate imports firmed slightly year-over-year, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 637,000 mt from 624,000 mt in the first two months of 2023. China supplied 92% of the month’s product, sending 587,000 mt. February imports of 231,000 mt – all from China – fell about 20% from the 211,000 mt received in February 2023.