US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market remained at $400-$405/st FOB for the latest indications, though no actual business was confirmed during the week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was steady at $415-$435/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Illinois River locations and the high at inland terminals in Ohio. The Cincinnati market was pegged at the $430/st FOB level at mid-month. In the Northeast, the latest granular offers FOB East Liverpool reportedly slipped to the $415/st FOB level.
Western Cornbelt:
The granular ammonium sulfate market was unchanged at $405-$430/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa and at Caruthersville.
Southern Plains:
Granular ammonium sulfate prices were pegged at a solid $410-$420/st FOB Houston and $440-$465/st FOB Catoosa/Inola in mid-May, up from $400-$440/st FOB at last report.
South Central:
Ammonium sulfate prices were quoted at $415-$440/st FOB in the South Central region, down from $430-$450/st FOB, with the low reported in Kentucky and the high in Arkansas. The Memphis market was pegged at the $430/st FOB level during the week.
Southeast:
The latest ammonium sulfate reference prices at Hopewell, Va., remained at $375/st FOB for granular, $355/st FOB for mid-grade, and $335/st FOB for standard. Other terminal offers for granular tons in the Southeast included $400/st FOB in Alabama and $395/st FOB in Florida, while standard grade was quoted at a low of $300/st FOB in Florida for limited supply.
Northwest Europe:
Standard ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe moved down amid muted buyer interest, with producers lowering offers to €130-€150/mt FOB, or $140-$160/mt FOB at midweek exchange rates. Indications for the new season were heard some $15/mt lower but could not be confirmed.
Granular ammonium sulfate was reported at €180-€185/mt FOB, or $195-$200/mt FOB.
China:
Instead of urea, domestic NPK producers are taking increasing amounts of ammonium sulfate for their production needs. At the same time, some plants are beginning routine maintenance turnarounds, and the price impact is being felt. Sources reported caprolactam grade amsul prices at $122-$127/mt FOB, with most deals pushing toward the upper end of the range.
More plants are expected to take turnarounds in June, leaving a gap in available tonnage, and reports indicate that some suppliers have already sold out well into June. Should the trend continue, nothing will be available next week below $125/mt FOB, one trader said.
Indonesia:
Pupuk Holdings called a tender for 35,000 mt of amsul to be delivered in three lots, set to close on May 20. One lot of 20,000 mt is slated for delivery to the port of Gresik, 5,000 mt should be delivered to Palembang, and the remaining 10,000 mt is for delivery to Jakarta.
South Korea:
While South Korea is typically a reliable supplier of ammonium sulfate to the global market, 2024 is not looking like a strong year for exports from the East Asian country. South Korea has exported just 193 mt of amsul in January-April, a dramatic drop from the year-ago 47,000 mt. April exports totaled 1 mt, against 220 mt in April 2023 and 17,000 mt in April 2022.
Brazil:
Ammonium sulfate imports lost $5/mt from the top of the range, settling at $160-$165/mt CFR. While most offers were reported at $170/mt CFR during the week, buyers refused purchases at that level.
Despite a strong barter ratio for ammonium sulfate in recent weeks, sales of nitrogen products remain slow compared to recent seasons. Prices lifted $10/mt at Rondonópolis during the week, to $280/mt FOB from $270/mt FOB.