US Gulf:

The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market slipped to $230-$250/st for new indications, based on a new round of fill programs launched in the Midwest this week.

US Imports:

Ammonium sulfate imports for May firmed 59.7% year-over-year, to 151,494 st from 94,876 st. Imports totaled 817,743 st for July-May, however, falling 6.6% from 875,182 st in the year-ago period.

Canadian imports totaled 417,110 st for July-May, ahead of 208,712 st from Belgium and 77,769 st from South Korea.

US Exports:

Ammonium sulfate exports softened 31.6% in May, to 42,944 st from the year-go 62,824 st. Exports totaled 705,956 st for July-May, however, up 25.5% from the year-ago 562,299 st. July-May exports to Peru were noted at 143,231 st, while US sellers shipped 127,870 st to Brazil. Canada bought 108,737 st.

Eastern Cornbelt:

AdvanSix on July 11 launched a summer fill program for ammonium sulfate in the Midwest, with new granular prices quoted at $270-$285/st FOB and $280-$290/st rail-DEL, depending on location. Other producers were reportedly matching. Ohio sources quoted fill offers at $270-$275/st FOB Cincinnati, $285/st FOB inland terminals, and $290/st rail-DEL during the week.

Pacific Northwest:

IRM adjusted ammonium sulfate prices in the Pacific Northwest on July 12, with new postings reported at $300/st FOB or DEL for Tranzform and WesternPremium, and $260/st FOB or DEL for WesternStandard.

Western Cornbelt:

The release of more fill offers on July 11 pushed the granular ammonium sulfate market down to $270-$310/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location and supplier.

Northeast:

Granular ammonium sulfate fill prices in the Northeast slipped to $280-$290/st DEL, with reports of terminal prices dropping to the $285/st FOB level.

Eastern Canada:

Ammonium sulfate was quoted in a broad range at C$460-$660/mt FOB in Eastern Canada, down from C$670-$825/mt FOB at last report, with the low confirmed for limited fill offers that were scheduled to expire on July 14.

China:

Prices held steady at $115-$120/mt FOB for caprolactam-grade amsul. However, buyers in Southeast Asia and Brazil are putting pressure on suppliers for more product as urea prices increase, sources said. Additionally, buyers in Asia are looking for amsul as a urea substitute, as plant closures in the region have limited urea availability.

Brazil:

Granular ammonium sulfate prices moved up to $175-$185/mt CFR in Brazil. Sources described the move as in line with urea price increases. International traders have taken note of the growing demand in Brazil, with some looking for the best deal between buyers in Brazil and Asia.

Rondonopolis showed limited demand for amsul. Even with a laggard market, sources said the price moved up to $295-$330/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

Ammonium sulfate imports totaled 1.5 million mt in January-June, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 24% decline from 2 million mt reported in first-half 2022. China supplied 1.4 million mt, accounting for 91% of the market.

Second-quarter imports of 757,000 mt were up marginally from 713,000 mt logged in the same period of 2022, while June imports were pegged at 325,000 mt, rising from the prior-year 197,000 mt. China dominated supply, sending 262,000 mt.