US Gulf:
The NOLA barge market for ammonium sulfate remained at $375-$385/st FOB for the last confirmed business, though sources continued to report no new trades during the week. Some suppliers were reportedly sold out through May.
US Imports:
February ammonium sulfate imports stood at 186,078 st, up 516.2% from the 30,198 st reported in February 2023. July-February volumes were noted at 720,524, a 63.3% rise from the year-ago 441,247 st.
Imports from Canada stood at 346,238 st for July-February, ahead of 146,347 st from Belgium. Russia dropped into third place with 89,936 st.
US Exports:
February ammonium sulfate exports were 32,505 st, a 46.1% increase on the year-ago 22,252 st. July-February volumes were down 19.4%, however, at 458,920 st compared to the 569,273 st posted one year earlier.
Exports to Peru totaled 125,624 st in July-February, followed by Canada with 63,078 st. Brazil took 40,743 st, slightly ahead of Mexico’s 40,524 st, while the Dominican Republic bought 38,385 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices climbed to $410-$440/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $10/st at the top of the range, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati and the high in Illinois. In the Great Lakes region, the latest offers in Michigan ranged from $440-$450/st FOB, depending on location.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was pegged at $400-$430/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis.
California:
The latest ammonium sulfate prices were pegged at $410-$460/st FOB and $470-$520/st DEL, with the low for standard and the high for granular tons. Reference prices included granular at $447/st FOB Richvale and Helm, and $457/st FOB French Camp, well above the $385-$395/st FOB range reported in mid-March.
Pacific Northwest:
Granular ammonium sulfate pricing in the Pacific Northwest firmed to $360-$400/st FOB or DEL, depending on supplier, up from $330-$350/st in mid-March. New postings from IRM effective April 8 in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Montana included Tranzform and WesternPremium at $390/st FOB or DEL, and WesternStandard at $330/st FOB or DEL.
Western Canada:
The latest ammonium sulfate offers in Western Canada jumped to C$585-$595/mt DEL for limited April-May tons, up sharply from C$500-$515/mt DEL. Some suppliers reportedly had no tons to offer until later in May, however.
Northwest Europe:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe have been largely unaffected by the slump in urea and nitrates, due in part to lower caprolactam utilization rates. Prices for standard ammonium sulfate were unchanged at $170-$180/mt FOB, with demand expected to remain muted through May.
China:
The drop in urea prices is affecting China’s caprolactam grade amsul market, sources said. Prior to the Indian tender action, producers were prepared to push for $130/mt FOB. Instead, reports of deals at $118-$125/mt FOB were noted during the latter part of the week.
The market’s weakness has led several producers to take unscheduled maintenance turnarounds. One producer described the number of plants shutting for April and most of May as falling outside the norm.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports declined $5/mt at the top of the range, to $150-$155/mt CFR from last week’s $150-$160/mt CFR. While some players expected granular amsul prices to follow the urea market lower, healthy demand has allowed sellers to hold prices relatively stable.
Following the trend in urea, ammonium sulfate prices moved lower at Rondonópolis, though to a lesser degree. Demand for cotton planting has helped support the market, and sellers have resisted appeals for lower prices. Negotiations were reported at $260-$270/mt FOB, a $5/mt drop from the bottom of last week’s range.
Trade Data Monitor reported January-March Brazil amsul imports at 812,000 mt, a marginal increase from the 779,000 mt received in first-quarter 2023, with China shipping 93% of the tonnage. March imports totaled 177,000 mt – up from 155,000 mt in March 2023 – with China supplying 169,000 mt.