U.S. Imports: July-January imports were up 46 percent, to 220,036 st from the year-ago 150,883 st. January imports were off 35 percent, however, to 19,693 st from the year-ago 30,137 st.
As for YTD imports, China has made a big contribution, at 93,477 st of the total 220,036 st. That compares to a year-ago performance of just 12,011 st and 150,883 st, respectively.
Eastern Cornbelt: Most sources quoted the granular ammonium sulfate market in the $315-$325/st FOB range in the Eastern Cornbelt last week, with rail-DEL tons pegged in the $320-$330/st range.
Ammonium thiosulfate was steady at $340-$350/st FOB in the region.
Western Cornbelt: Granular ammonium sulfate remained in a broad range at $285-$325/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported in Missouri and the upper end in Iowa.
Ammonium thiosulfate was unchanged at $310-$345/st FOB in the region, depending on location.
Northern Plains: The granular ammonium sulfate market was unchanged at $300-$310/st FOB in the Northern Plains, with delivered product referenced in the $320-$325/st range, depending on location. Sources reported limited product available, however, with several suppliers reportedly offering no tons for sale in early March.
The ammonium thiosulfate market was quoted at $320-$330/st FOB for either prompt or prepay tons in the Northern Plains.
Great Lakes: Granular ammonium sulfate remained at $315-$325/st FOB in the Great Lakes region, with the low end reported in the Wisconsin market and the upper end FOB Webberville.
The ammonium thiosulfate market was pegged at $340-$365/st FOB in the region, with the low end of the range quoted by Michigan sources and the upper end in Wisconsin.
Northeast: Granular ammonium sulfate was tagged at $305-$315/st DEL in the Northeast, with the Hopewell, Va., market reported at $280-$285/st FOB for tons shipped to the Northeast.
Mexico: Most sources expect that a decision by Mexico’s Economy Ministry to levy temporary antidumping duties on Chinese and U.S. imports will have more of an impact on China than the U.S.
While China has been recently pumping out a lot of additional product, U.S. export statistics show only 24,173 st of ammonium sulfate going to Mexico from the U.S. in the current fertilizer year. For July-January, total U.S. exports were 790,270 st, with Brazil being the dominant destination at 403,481 st. U.S. ammonium sulfate exports in the year-ago period to Mexico were higher at 62,396 st out of a total 911,458 st.
There were unconfirmed reports last week of ammonium sulfate vessels from China already being impacted. The duty on Chinese product was reported at US$0.1782 per kilogram, and for the U.S. at US$0.1858 per kilogram.
Mexican producers Agrogen SA and Metalurgica Met-Mex Penoles SA lodged complaints about imports nearly a year ago, and the country initiated an investigation last summer.