US Gulf:
The NOLA ammonium sulfate market edged up to $270-$280/st FOB for the latest indications, up $10/st from last week based on current upriver pricing, though sources were unable to confirm any new barge business taking place during the week.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate was unchanged at $320-$345/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed out of spot Ohio River locations and the high reflecting the latest reference prices from AdvanSix out of regional river terminals. Rail-DEL offers were reported at the $340/st level in the region.
Western Cornbelt:
Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $325-$345/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the upper end reflecting postings from AdvanSix out of Upper Mississippi River terminals.
Northern Plains:
The latest ammonium sulfate fill offers in the Northern Plains reportedly firmed to $325-$350/st FOB, with delivered fill tons pegged in the $310-$350/st range, depending on supplier, up from initial offers at the $310-$330/st DEL level in mid-July.
Northeast:
AdvanSix on Aug. 1 announced a summer fill program for ammonium sulfate in the eastern US. Posted prices FOB Hopewell, Va., for orders placed on Aug. 5-8 and pulled by Oct. 31 include granular at $295/st FOB, mid-grade at $275/st FOB, and standard at $255/st FOB. Regional sources reported rail-DEL fill offers at the $330/st level in the Northeast.
Those fill levels are up $80/st from the company’s last spring postings. AdvanSix said prices are slated to go up $20/st on Aug. 9.
Eastern Canada:
Ammonium sulfate prices in Eastern Canada rebounded slightly, to C$525-$575/mt FOB for the latest fill offers, up from C$510-$555/mt FOB in mid-July.
China:
Ammonium sulfate prices settled down to $135-$140/mt FOB during the week, despite arguments from producers for higher prices.
Sellers claim that limited amsul availability due to production cuts should push the price well into the $140s/mt FOB. However, buyers have pointed out that with each buying tender in Southeast Asia, the netback for caprolactam grade amsul keeps coming back to the mid- to upper-$130s/mt FOB.
South Korea:
South Korea’s Pungnong closed a tender for 6,000 mt of caprolactam grade amsul on Aug. 1, with delivery requested by the end of the month.
Thailand:
Trade Data Monitor reported January-June amsul imports to Thailand at 273,000 mt, a notable increase from the 114,000 mt received in first-half 2023. China supplied 256,000 mt, for 94% of the import market.
June imports increased slightly, to 29,000 mt from the 27,000 mt received in June 2023, while second-quarter imports of 128,000 mt were up significantly from the 70,000 mt reported for April-June 2023.
Turkey:
January-June ammonium sulfate imports fell slightly year-over-year, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 574,000 mt from 582,000 mt in 2023. China accounted for 81% of the total with 464,000 mt, followed by 58,000 mt from Belgium.
Turkey imported 80,000 mt in June, up from the 41,000 mt received one year earlier. Imports were 192,000 mt in April-June, down about 31% from the 278,000 mt purchased in second-quarter 2023.
Brazil:
Brazil granular ammonium sulfate slipped $5/mt at the high side to settle at $170-$175/mt CFR. With buyers showing limited interest in nitrogens and urea trading at a discount during the week, demand remained constricted.
Rondonópolis prices fell $5-$10/mt from the previous week to settle at $290-$300/mt FOB, contributing to an improved barter ratio. Many producers were focused on topdressing with a 20-00-20 blend for the second corn crop, which was sold in significant volumes along major trade routes. The current barter ratio for 20-00-20 was approximately 65-66 bags per ton of fertilizer, above buyers’ ideal range of 60-62 bags per ton.