US Gulf:
The NOLA barge market for ammonium sulfate continued at $375-$385/st FOB for the last confirmed business, though sources reported no new trades during the week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices climbed to $410-$430/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $10/st from last week, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati and the high in Illinois. In the Great Lakes region, the latest offers in Michigan ranged from $410-$440/st FOB, depending on location.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market eased up to $400-$425/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices continued to strengthen in the Southern Plains. Recent offers in the region included $375/st FOB Houston and up to $440/st FOB Catoosa/Inola, up sharply from the prior $350-$375/st FOB range.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices in the South Central region were up dramatically from mid-March levels. The market jumped to $400-$440/st FOB for limited tons, up from the prior $320-$375/st FOB range, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high out of Ohio River terminals in Kentucky. Most Arkansas offers fell in the $420-$425/st FOB range during the week.
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. Other terminal offers for granular tons in the region included $350/st FOB in Alabama, $360/st FOB in Petersburg, Va., and $380/st FOB in Florida, with standard grade quoted at the $290/st FOB level in Florida.
China:
Sources said the uptick in urea pricing in the Indian tender helped provide a floor for amsul prices. Caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate was pegged at $120-$125/mt FOB, with most business identified toward the upper end of the range. Sources reported numerous sales into Southeast Asia that backed up the new pricing ideas.
Turkey:
January-February amsul imports totaled 236,000 mt, according to Trade Data Monitor, off slightly from the year-ago 242,000 mt, with 231,000 mt coming from China. Turkey imported 68,000 mt in February, more than double the 31,000 mt received one year earlier.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports in Brazil declined $5/mt at the bottom of the range, falling to $150-$160/mt CFR. Buyer interest reportedly swelled after the $150/mt CFR transaction was reported, moving prices back to the top of the range.
Rondonópolis prices followed the weakening urea market, dropping to $265-$270/mt FOB from $270-$275/mt FOB at last report. Business rumored above that range went unconfirmed during the week.