Oakley Fertilizer Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bruce Oakley Inc., North Little Rock, Ark., announced on Nov. 1 that it has acquired the U.S. assets of Oxbow Fertilizer LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oxbow Sulphur Inc., The Woodlands, Texas.

The purchase includes Oxbow fertilizer distribution facilities at Cincinnati, Ohio, Ottawa and Seneca, Ill., and St. Louis, Mich.  “Oakley expects the transition to be seamless and will be business-as-usual,” Oakley said in a brief statement. “As part of the purchase, Oakley will be required to change the name of the company. We will notify everyone when this is completed.”

Oakley said all questions about day-to-day operations should be directed to Bubba Vance, Oakley Fertilizer vice president. Oakley Fertilizer currently operates fertilizer facilities at Catoosa, Okla., Caruthersville, Mo., Shreveport, La., and at Arkansas locations at North Little Rock, Morrilton, Beebe, and Pendleton.

United Suppliers, Ames, Iowa, announced on Sept. 21 that it has sold its fertilizer facility in Henry, Ill., to Unity Envirotech of Illinois LLC. The sale was completed on Sept. 19, with both parties also agreeing to a 100 percent offtake agreement for United Suppliers to receive all of the ammonium sulfate produced at Henry. Unity Envirotech said it plans to make ammonium sulfate and several products at the site.

“We are looking forward to this new relationship with Unity Envirotech,” said Todd Minnihan, vice president for Crop Nutrients at United Suppliers. “They have access to unique technology, are focused on continued investment in the Henry facility, and are a good long-term collaborator.”

United Suppliers noted that it will soon be merging with the WinField United business within Land O’ Lakes Inc. The Henry location is the first production facility for Unity Envirotech, a company that specializes in “bringing new technology to market to enhance the nutrient value of dry granule fertilizers.”

“Unity Envirotech is excited to be the new owner of the Henry complex and looks forward to the continued production of high-quality, environmentally sound fertilizer products at this strategic facility located in the heart of the country’s agricultural region,” said Hermann H. Wittje, Unity’s chairman and CEO. “United Suppliers will remain the key customer for materials from this facility and we look forward to our continued partnership with United for many years to come.”

Yara Europe announced on Sept. 18 that in light of rapidly rising international prices, it has decided to stop taking orders for nitrogen-based products in Europe, effective immediately.

On Sept. 11, Yara posted a €15/mt increase for new deliveries of CAN in Germany, raising the price to €194/mt CIF bulk inland ports. That was Yara’s fifth price increase for CAN in Germany so far this season. On the same day, it also released its fifth increase for ammonium nitrate deliveries in France, raising the price by €15/mt, to €250/mt CPT bulk.

The industry was surprised on Sept. 16 when IPL called a urea tender to close on Sept. 25. It is unusual for a company to call a tender so close after it closed an earlier tender for the same product. Usually one of the other three buying houses would call a tender if the government approves the rapid call.

When the previous IPL tender resulted in only 327,000 mt being purchased against offers of 709,000 mt, industry watchers said another tender could be called quickly, but most likely would wait until all the awarded material in the first tender was booked with vessels all nominated.

India needs about 1.5 million tons to close out the year. Sources said securing the necessary tonnage has become difficult. China has withdrawn from the international market, as has Ukraine. This leaves the Arab Gulf and Iranian producers, sources said. Demand has been growing worldwide for Iranian product, however, leaving India to compete with buyers in Latin America and Europe.

Sources reported late Friday, Sept. 15, India time that discussions are currently underway to call another urea tender. The new tender could be called as soon as this weekend, but more likely after Monday, Sept. 18. The news was received after the Green Markets Sept. 15 issue went to press.

Sources said STC will most likely call the next tender. The poor showing of available tonnage in the IPL tender that closed on Sept. 8 has left India with a urea shortfall of about 1.5 million tons for the rest of the year.

It is unusual for any of the Indian buying houses to call a tender before the ship-by date of a recent tender. Award winners in the IPL tender have until Oct. 23 to ship their product. Sources reported, however, that the bulk of the tonnage awarded to one trader is already being loaded. Other award winners are also reportedly lining up prompt shipments of their cargoes. If the full 327,000 mt gets loaded soon, sources said a new tender would not compete with the cargo awarded under the IPL tender.

AdvanSix on Sept. 14 announced another increase to its ammonium sulfate prices. Midwest terminal prices for granular firmed to $225-$235/st FOB in Illinois, $230-$235/st FOB in Wisconsin, $230/st FOB Roseport, Minn., and $240/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa. Mid-grade postings moved up as well, to $210/st FOB Roseport and $210-$215/st FOB in Illinois. AdvanSix’s rail-DEL postings in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota firmed to $240/st for granular and $220/st for mid-grade.

The increase is the second announced by AdvanSix in the last week, and reflects a $10/st hike from the company’s Sept. 7 list prices (GM Sept. 8, p. 7) in the Midwest. American Plant Food Corp. also announced a $10/st increase to its granular ammonium sulfate postings, with prices firming on Sept. 11 to $185/st FOB Freeport and Houston, Texas.