All posts by hlancey@bloomberg.net

Ammonium Polyphosphate

Ammonium Polyphosphate, California, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

Eastern Cornbelt:

Stronger phos acid prices pushed the 10-34-0 market to $525-$545/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location and time of shipment.

Western Cornbelt:

10-34-0 firmed to $500-$520/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt for the latest offers.

California:

10-34-0 was pegged at $528-$533/st FOB for November tons in California, with prices scheduled to strengthen to $569-$574/st FOB on Dec. 1. A December increase was also on the books for 11-37-0, with prices firming to $620-$625/st FOB from November’s $575-$580/st FOB range.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium polyphosphate prices in the Pacific Northwest were slated to increase on Dec. 1, with 10-34-0 rising to $555/st FOB from November’s $520/st FOB. The 11-37-0 market was quoted at $610/st FOB and $600/st DEL in Idaho and Utah as of Dec. 1, up from November pricing at $565/st FOB and $555/st DEL.

Western Canada:

10-34-0 pricing in Western Canada remained at C$850-$855/mt DEL for the latest offers.

International Fertilizer Association (IFA) – Management Brief

Management Briefs

The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) has elected Raviv Zoller, CEO of ICL Group, as Vice Chair of the Association at its Strategic Forum 2023 in Doha, Qatar. Seelan Gobalsamy, Group CEO of Omnia Holdings, and Rahmad Pribadi, CEO of PT Pupuk, were also elected to the IFA Board. Sarfaraz Ahmed Rehman, CEO of Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd., was re-elected to the Board for an additional term.

In a Nov. 30 statement, IFA said members also voted to approve the membership applications of four new Ordinary members, 15 new Associate members, four new Affiliate members and two new Correspondent members, taking the total number of Association members to 484.

“Helping to feed the world sustainably is at the core of what we do, and IFA is fortunate to have such seasoned executives on our Board,” said IFA CEO and Director General Alzbeta Klein. “I am also delighted to welcome our new members to the Association and look forward to working closely with them in the coming months.”

Muriate of Potash

Brazil, California, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Potash Muriate, Thailand, U.S. Gulf, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

NOLA potash slipped to $315-$330/st FOB for recent business, down from last week’s $330-$335/st FOB range, with the low reported for limited sales of imported tons on Nov. 24. By the last days of November, most sources were quoting new NOLA offers in the $325-$330/st FOB range.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Potash was steady at $400-$420/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed in Illinois on a spot basis. The Cincinnati market was reported in the $415-$420/st FOB range during the week.

Western Cornbelt:

Potash was pegged at a firm $400-$420/st FOB range in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location.

California:

Potash pricing remained at $530-$553/st FOB or DEL in California, depending on grade and location.

Pacific Northwest:

Potash was quoted at $482-$508/st FOB or DEL in Pacific Northwest, with the high reflecting reference pricing for 62% MOP. The last postings from Intrepid FOB Moab and Wendover, Utah, included $435/st FOB for 60% white standard and $440/st for 60% white granular.

Western Canada:

Potash truck pricing in Western Canada was unchanged at C$575-$585/mt FOB Saskatchewan mines for November-December tons, depending on grade.

Thailand:      

Potash imports fell 21% in January-October, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 539,000 mt from the year-ago 682,000 mt. October imports totaled 65,000 mt, an increase from the 16,000 mt received in October 2022. Belarus sent 31,000 mt for the month, ahead of 18,000 mt from Laos.

Brazil:

Potash import prices narrowed for the week, to $320-$330/mt CFR from last week’s $315-$335/mt CFR. Improving weather for soybean growing, along with shipping line-ups described as “healthy,” have contributed to stabilizing prices in the market, players said.

Rondonópolis prices fell to $440-$455/mt FOB ex-warehouse for the week, down from $455-$465/mt FOB at last report. Reports of potential oversupply pressured the market, as multiple cargoes are expected to land in Brazil in the coming months. According to sources, suppliers are willing to consider discounts from the current range, especially for large-volume trades, though the market’s ongoing sluggishness has reportedly slowed the decline in prices.

Sulfur

ADNOC - Abu Dhabi, Alberta, Brazil, China, Qatar, Sulfur, Tampa, U.S. Gulf, Vancouver, West Coast

Tampa:

Fourth-quarter Tampa molten sulfur contracts were priced at $102/lt CFR, 85% above the prior period’s $55/lt CFR.

US Gulf:

US Gulf exports fell to $80-$85/mt, off from last week’s $85-$90/mt FOB, with players continuing to note soft sentiment in the market.

Brazil:

Brazil imports slipped to $108-$115/mt CFR, down from the week-ago $110-$117/mt CFR. The market’s latest transaction was reported at the bottom of the range.

Vancouver:   

Sources put Vancouver prices at $78-$85/mt FOB, below the previous $80-$90/mt FOB range, with players continuing to describe a general feeling of softness in the market.

Alberta:

Alberta netback estimates were steady at (-)$13-$30/mt FOB. The wide range included molten sulfur cargoes contracted into the US market and prilled material exported through the Vancouver market.

West Coast:

West Coast solid sulfur prices trailed Vancouver lower, falling to $78-$85/mt FOB from $80-$90/mt FOB at last report. Molten sulfur contracts were valued at $85-$90/lt FOB for fourth-quarter loading.

China:

Sulfur imports at China remained at $105-$110/mt CFR for the week, with sources noting high inventories and new export restrictions impacting the market. Some players expect prices to fall in the short term.

ADNOC:

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) prilled sulfur postings for November tracked above current international price levels, sources said, at $100/mt FOB Ruwais. An updated posting for December is expected soon.

Qatar:

Muntajat lowered its December posted price to $85/mt FOB Ras Laffan, down 13.3% from $98/mt FOB in November.

Sulfuric Acid

Brazil, Chile, Market Watch, Sulfuric Acid, U.S. Gulf

US Gulf:

Negotiations remain underway for 2024 annual contracts. Spot import pricing continued to run in the $105-$110/mt CFR range.

Brazil:

Brazil imports firmed slightly, to $125-$130/mt CFR from $120-$130/mt CFR reported one week earlier.

Chile:

Annual 2024 sulfur contracts at Chile have concluded in the $125-$130/mt CFR Mejillones range, players said, a 12% decrease from $142-$148/mt CFR in 2023. While some deals were reportedly unsettled on Nov. 30, sources expected the remaining negotiations to land in a similar range.

Ammonium Thiosulfate

Amthio, California, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Western Cornbelt

Eastern Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was unchanged at $245-$270/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Terre Haute, Ind., and the high at inland terminals. The Cincinnati market remained at $255/st FOB in late November.

Western Cornbelt:

Ammonium thiosulfate was steady at $225-$260/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at Waterloo, Iowa.

California:

Ammonium thiosulfate pricing was unchanged at $340/st FOB in California.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium thiosulfate remained at $315/st FOB and $295/st DEL in Pacific Northwest, depending on location.