US Imports:
Phosphate rock imports for August softened 48.5% year-over-year, to 178,872 st from 347,610 st. Imports totaled 481,047 st for July-August, down 22.7% from 622,251 st in the year-ago period. July-August imports from Peru were recorded at 478,713 st, while Japan sent 1,177 st. Canada added 859 st.
US Exports:
Wet-process phosphoric acid exports for August stood at 50,700 st, up 693.3% from the year-ago 6,391 st. July-August exports totaled 85,756 st, up 85.9% from 46,131 st logged one year earlier. Mexico received 39,170 st for the two-month period, followed by India with 35,813 st and Canada with 8,277 st.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Phos acid postings in the Eastern Cornbelt remained at $10.40/unit rail-DEL for October shipments.
The phos acid price for October was unchanged at $10.40/unit rail-DEL in the Western Cornbelt.
California:
October pricing for phos acid was pegged at $10.50/unit rail-DEL in California, with MGA referenced at $10.70/unit FOB Lathrop.
Pacific Northwest:
Phos acid pricing for October was quoted at $10.00/unit FOB Pocatello, Idaho, and $10.50/unit rail-DEL in the Pacific Northwest.
Eastern Cornbelt:
10-34-0 pricing was steady at $490-$495/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.
The 10-34-0 market tightened to $485-$490/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed in Iowa.
California:
Ammonium polyphosphate pricing in California was quoted at $511-$516/st FOB for 10-34-0 and $556-$561/st FOB for 11-37-0 in mid-October.
Pacific Northwest:
10-34-0 was pegged at the $485-$495/st FOB level in the Pacific Northwest for October, with 11-37-0 pricing referenced at $525/st FOB in the region.
Western Canada:
Fueled by recent increases in ammonia and phos acid prices, 10-34-0 in Western Canada climbed to C$810-$825/mt DEL for October-November, up from a flat C$810/mt DEL at last report.
US Gulf:
NOLA potash was quoted at $345-$350/st FOB for limited business during the week, unchanged from last week’s range.
US Imports:
Potash imports for July-August lifted 1.7%, to 1.93 million st from the year-ago 1.90 million st. August imports fell 6.0%, however, to 1.07 million st from last year’s 1.14 million st. Imports from Canada were reported at 1.64 million st in July-August, while Russia sent 191,268 st and Israel added 93,040 st.
US Exports:
August potash exports fell 21.9%, to 274,570 st from the year-ago 351,656 st. July-August exports moved 19.5% lower, to 459,315 st from 570,749 st in the prior year. US exports to Brazil totaled 151,990 st for the two-month period, followed by 115,868 st to Malaysia and 94,363 st to China.
Potash was unchanged at $385-$400/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the high out of inland warehouses and the low at river terminals. The Cincinnati market remained at $390-$395/st FOB in mid-October.
Nutrien confirmed on Oct. 20 that it has increased its domestic potash prices by $20/st, with Midwest reference prices now at $420/st FOB. Nutrien said it has seen strong demand for potash in North America, with customers optimistic about a robust fall application season supported by continued strength in agricultural fundamentals.
Potash was steady at $385-$400/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the St. Louis market quoted in the $385-$395/st FOB range.
California:
The potash market remained at $510-$533/st FOB or DEL in California, depending on grade and location.
Pacific Northwest:
Potash was steady at $465-$488/st FOB or DEL in Pacific Northwest, with the high reflecting post-fill reference pricing for 62% MOP. The latest 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 remained at C$545-$555/mt FOB Saskatchewan mines for October-December shipment, depending on grade.
Brazil:
Potash import prices were stable at $330-$350/mt CFR. Facing limited demand, sellers are offering tons with formula-based pricing in an effort to spur liquidity. Muted interest held Rondonópolis prices at $475-$485/mt FOB, consistent with week-ago levels.
Tampa:
Sources reported a stable domestic sulfur market. Fourth-quarter Tampa contracts were valued at $102/lt CFR, an 85% increase from $55/lt CFR in the third quarter.
US Imports:
Sulfur imports totaled 203,662 st for August, down 22.4% from the year-ago 262,311 st. July-August volumes were 487,650 st, slipping 7.3% from 526,027 st in the prior-year period. Cargoes shipping from Canada in July-August totaled 231,582 st, followed by Saudi Arabia with 86,581 st. Mexico sent 42,661 st, ahead of 30,077 st from Iraq.
US Exports:
Sulfur exports rose 36.3% in July-August, to 459,522 st from the year-ago 337,200 st. August cargoes were counted at 298,291 st, a 140.7% increase from 123,931 st reported one year earlier. Brazil received 164,973 st of US sulfur in July-August, ahead of 115,868 st sent to Mexico. Morocco took 82,120 st, while New Caledonia received 59,602 st.
US Gulf:
The US Gulf sulfur market was steady at $100-$105/mt FOB. Players were reportedly focused on 2024 contract negotiations during the week.
Brazil:
Citing multiple confirmed transactions in the low $130s/mt CFR, sources pegged Brazil solid sulfur prices at $130-$135/mt CFR, slipping from $132-$140/mt CFR in the previous week.
Vancouver:
Vancouver prill prices continued at $95-$100/mt FOB. While phosphate production rates at China have reportedly rebounded from recent low levels, market participants continue to monitor the accumulation of port sulfur inventories in China.
Alberta:
Netbacks continued in the (-)$13-$30/mt FOB range, steady from the prior week. The range included both molten sulfur cargoes contracted into the US market and solid tons sold through the Vancouver export market.
West Coast:
Solid sulfur loading from the West Coast continued in line with Vancouver, at $95-$100/mt FOB. Molten sulfur contracts were reported at $85-$90/lt FOB for loading in the fourth quarter.
China:
Import prices at China held steady at $125-$130/mt CFR, players said. Circulating reports indicated ongoing sulfur accumulation at ports.
ADNOC:
Prilled sulfur produced by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) was offered at $111/mt FOB for October.
Qatar:
Muntajat sulfur prices for October loading were unmoved at $104/mt FOB Ras Laffan.
US Gulf:
With the 2024 negotiating season ongoing, prices held at the week-ago $120-$125/mt CFR range. Despite OCP now reportedly out of the market, players continued to report balanced conditions.
US Imports:
August sulfuric acid imports were 355,421 st, up 7.3% from the year-ago 331,123 st. July-August volumes firmed 13.1%, to 705,820 st from last year’s 624,135 st. July-August imports from Canada were 353,702 st, ahead of Mexico’s 126,938 st. Spain added 85,658 st.
US Exports:
August sulacid exports were noted at 14,091 st, a 27.0% decrease from the year-ago 19,307 st. July-August volumes were down 36.5%, to 27,234 st from last year’s 42,856 st. July-August exports to Canada were noted at 23,356 st, ahead of 1,872 st to Mexico. The Dominican Republic took 1,397 st.
Brazil:
Brazil imports were steady at $130-$138/mt CFR, with no new transactions reported.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The ammonium thiosulfate market was unchanged at $245-$270/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low reported at Terre Haute, Ind., and the high out of inland terminals in Ohio. The Cincinnati market remained at the $255/st FOB level in mid-October.
Western Cornbelt:
Ammonium thiosulfate remained 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:
The ammonium thiosulfate market was steady at $315/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest, with rail-DEL pricing reportedly slipping to $295/st on a spot basis.
California:
The AN-20 market was unchanged at $320/st DEL in California.
Pacific Northwest:
AN-20 pricing in the Pacific Northwest was reported at $345/st FOB Kennewick at mid-month.
California:
CAN-17 was pegged at $330-$345/st FOB in California, with the low reported at Helm and the high at Stockton.
Pacific Northwest:
CAN-17 was steady at $345/st FOB Kennewick in mid-October.
Cornbelt:
NPSZ pricing in the Cornbelt remained at $645-$730/st FOB for limited offers, depending on location.
Pacific Northwest:
40-Rock was pegged at the $750/st FOB or DEL level in the Pacific Northwest at mid-month.
