All posts by hlancey@bloomberg.net

Johns Hopkins Study Addresses Biosolids

Canada, News Briefs, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, U.S.

Fertilizers manufactured from the sludgy leftovers of wastewater treatment processes can contain traces of potentially hazardous organic chemicals, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers.

The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology, provides a comprehensive look at the chemical composition of so-called biosolids across the country and is the first step toward identifying common chemical contaminants that may need government regulation.

The findings could help the US Environmental Protection Agency prioritize which organic compounds to investigate further, the researchers said.

“We’ve been relatively in the dark when it comes to possible organic hazards in biosolids, and we need to know if there are any smoking guns that we’re unaware of,” said Carsten Prasse, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. “Regulators need to know what these types of fertilizers are made of to determine how they can be responsibly used.”

Using analytical chemistry techniques capable of identifying thousands of chemicals, Prasse and his team screened 16 samples of biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities in nine US and three Canadian cities. Samples contained traces of pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and a variety of fragrances. Among them were bisphenol A (BPA), commonly found in plastics, and carbamazepine, a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

“Because there are so many compounds in biosolids, the question we had was how do we triage? How do we find the chemicals that are widespread and could potentially be problematic, that the EPA and other scientists would need to investigate before proposing regulations,” Prasse said.

The researchers then created lists of the chemicals found in each sample and compared them to compounds that popped up in multiple places across the country. They identified 92 compounds that were present in 80% or more of the samples.

The researchers then cross-referenced those 92 compounds against the EPA’s CompTox Chemical Dashboard, a database that details the properties, hazards, and potential risks of thousands of chemicals. The dashboard helped the team identify which chemicals were most likely to pose threats to human health or the environment.

“We’re not saying that these compounds pose a risk right now, because we haven’t done a formal risk assessment,” said Matthew Newmeyer, a Research Associate at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and first author on the paper. “We’re saying that these have a potential to be problematic and we need more information in order to make sure these biosolids are safe.”

Using biosolids can be beneficial, the researchers said. They are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that help plants grow. They require less energy to make than synthetic alternatives. And wastewater facilities can sell biosolids to generate revenue to offset treatment costs and reduce waste sent to landfills or incinerators.

More than half of the 3.76 million tons of biosolids produced in the US in 2022 fertilized agricultural lands, golf courses, and other landscaped areas, according to the EPA. While direct contact with biosolids is likely limited to occupational exposures, the broader population could be exposed to contaminants absorbed by crops grown in such fertilizers, the researchers said.

The team plans to measure the identified compounds in the biosolids and vegetables grown in biosolid-amended soil to determine if their concentration levels warrant concern. The researchers are also investigating risks to farmers, landscapers, and composters who work with biosolids.

Ammonia

Ammonia, California, China, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Market Watch, Northwestern Europe, Pacific N.W., Tampa, U.S. Gulf, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf/Tampa:

Tampa ammonia for August was settled at $475/mt CFR, up $60/mt from July’s $415/mt contract. An increase had been expected, fueled by stronger pricing in some international markets, a good response to recent fall prepay offers in the Midwest, and another uptick in fall pricing last week.

The Tampa increase pushed the Caribbean ammonia price to an indicative $435/mt FOB and the NOLA barge market to $432/st FOB.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Ammonia fall prepay offers remained at $515-$520/st FOB terminals in Illinois and Indiana, with reports of prompt pricing at the $510/st FOB level on a spot basis.

Western Cornbelt:

The ammonia market was unchanged at $515-$525/st FOB for fall prepay offers in the Western Cornbelt.

California:

Ammonia reference prices in California were steady at $680/st DEL for anhydrous and $187-$197/st FOB for aqua ammonia.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonia remained at $630/st FOB terminals in the Pacific Northwest in late July, with the aqua ammonia market steady at the $168/st FOB level in the region.

Western Canada:

Ammonia slipped to C$775/mt FOB Medicine Hat, Alta., for September-October offers, with delivered fall prepay remaining at the C$900-$910/mt DEL level in Western Canada.

Northwest Europe:

No new sales have been reported in Northwest Europe since $510/mt CFR Antwerp was achieved for a small lot to a German industrial buyer. The market remains at $470-$510/mt CFR.

Perceived tightness ex-Trinidad and at the US Gulf, as well as limited North African availability, seems to suggest continued price support. However, muted downstream nitrates demand and stable natural gas pricing on the European continent may act as mitigants.

India: 

Sources expect FACT to soon call a tender for 8,000-15,000 mt of ammonia, offering a window into India’s spot market. It is unlikely the tender will be helpful in calculating the equivalent price in the Arab Gulf, however, as the most recent tender was sourced from Iran. Sources expect the upcoming tender to also be awarded to an offer of Iranian tons.

China:

China remains an opportunistic ammonia exporter. When the price is high in Southeast Asia and domestic demand is light, China will offer ammonia to regional buyers. So far this year, however, opportunities to sell ammonia have been limited out of China.

China exported 32,000 mt of ammonia in January-June, according to Trade Data Monitor, compared to 135,000 mt during the same period of 2023. Vietnam took 27,000 mt, for 86% of the total exports. June exports were 13,000 mt, up from the 1,500 mt shipped in June 2023. Second-quarter exports were reported at 16,000 mt, almost double the 8,400 mt sent during April-June 2023.

January-June ammonia imports fell 26% year-over-year, to 291,000 mt from 391,000 mt in first-half 2023. June imports of 32,000 mt were down 57% from the 74,000 mt imported in the prior June. Second-quarter imports were pegged at 139,000 mt, down by half from the 285,000 mt received in April-June 2023.

Urea

Argentina, Brazil, California, China, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Indonesia, Market Watch, Mediterranean, Middle East, Pacific N.W., Southeast Asia, U.S. Gulf, Urea, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

The NOLA urea barge market firmed to $305-$312/st FOB for July and $310-$315/st FOB for August trades, up from last week’s $300-$307/st FOB range for limited July business.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Urea was unchanged at $365-$375/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the high out of inland warehouses.

Western Cornbelt:

Urea pricing remained at $345-$365/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis, Mo.

California:

Urea was steady at $490-$540/st FOB in California, with the low reported for granular bulk tons at Stockton and the high for prilled urea at San Diego. Bagged granular urea remained at $560/st FOB Stockton during the week. No current DEL prices were confirmed in late July.

Pacific Northwest:

The urea market was quoted at $415-$420/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest, with the low confirmed at Riverview, Ore. Delivered tons were reported at $400-$410/st in the region.

Western Canada:

Urea was quoted at C$615/mt FOB and C$640/mt DEL in Western Canada.

India: 

India’s urea stockpile remains high at an estimated 10 million mt, sources said. Demand is expected to pick up in the third quarter, however, leading sources to speculate that another tender could be called as early as mid-August. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd. (RCF) could run the next tender, players said.

For now, traders are busy fulfilling the awards issued in the recent Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL) tender. Several vessels have reportedly been booked to pick up tonnage in the Arab Gulf ahead of the tender’s late-September shipping deadline

The Indian government announced its final FY2024-25 budget. The amount allotted for fertilizer subsidies was dramatically slashed from the previous year.

The subsidy allocation for the current fiscal year is Rs164,000 crore ($19.6 billion), down significantly from the Rs251,369 crore ($30 billion) that was ultimately approved for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The bulk of the subsidy payments will go toward maintaining a set price of about $64/mt for urea. Phosphates and potash subsidies fluctuate, as they are based on market prices and nutrient content.

Mediterranean:

Buyers in France and Italy are reportedly beginning to resist offers of $400/mt CFR, with last week’s short-lived outage in Egypt failing to stir interest for fresh tons in the Mediterranean. Demand in nearby Turkey and Romania is also reportedly muted. As a result, granular urea in the Mediterranean was stable at $385-$400/mt CFR.

Southeast Asia:

There were no reports of fresh spot granular urea business in Southeast Asia. Still, traders active in the region reported improved availability, despite producers indicating that they are well committed for August. Granular urea pricing was unchanged at $350-$366/mt FOB.

Indonesia:     

Early-week rumors that Indonesia’s recent granular selling tender was being scrapped – even after an award was made at $366/mt FOB – were discounted by traders as the week wore on. By the end of the week, Pupuk confirmed the sale of 30,000 mt to Universal Harvester, of the Philippines, with the tons scheduled to ship in early August.

Pupuk had offered up to 45,000 mt in the tender and hoped it could sell even more following the award. Buyers were reluctant to step up to the $366/mt FOB level, however.

There were reports this week that Pupuk entered into talks that would move the deal from a flat fee to a formula basis. According to one trader, Pupuk offered tons at a rate to be determined by the published average of the export price, plus a premium. The premium would be used to cover transportation and other handling costs. So far, the trader noted, no one has taken Pupuk up on the offer.

Pupuk closed a prilled urea tender of just 5,000 mt this week at $378/mt FOB. Sources reported that Universal Harvester was also involved in the deal. This tender closed significantly higher than the last prilled sale of $323/mt, and places prills in the unusual position of being priced at a premium to granular. Sources said the absence of Chinese urea in the global market has made securing prilled urea more difficult.

Middle East: 

Producers are spending time covering IPL/Indian tender awards and long-term contract sales in lieu of chasing spot deals. At least three ships are slated for imminent arrival to the Arab Gulf to begin loading tons for India. In the end, IPL only took about 433,000 mt in its tender, with most of the product expected to come from the Arab Gulf.

Regional shortages of natural gas in Egypt forced some facilities to close last week, and sources said these plants are still down. Plants located in areas where gas is still available are continuing to run, however. Egyptian producers with plants that remain in operation reported production at approximately 80% of rated capacity, with some indicating slightly higher output.

Prices moved up on a sale of two 5,000 mt lots by NCIC late last week at $362-$367/mt FOB, in line with expectations. Before the deal was closed, producers had been pushing for deals in the low-$370/mt FOB for August and September loading. Producer price ideas have now moved into the mid- to upper-$370s/mt FOB, with some even calling for $380/mt FOB.

China:

Restrictions on urea exports remain in effect. An increasing number of traders are beginning to fear that rumors indicating the restrictions could be kept in place for the rest of the year may be true.

Prices ex-factory dropped significantly this week. The price dipped to RMB2,050/mt ex-plant early in the week, sources said, before bouncing to RMB2,070/mt by July 25, translating to an estimated export price in the $307-$310/mt FOB range. The lack of spot business from China has left domestic prices as the only way to indicate where export prices might stand at any given time.

While the lower price should make export inspectors happy, the country’s urea reserves seem insufficient to placate the inspectors, sources said. There are reports that more plants are stepping up production. Until prices move even lower than current levels and reserves grow much larger, sources said there is little hope for any urea exports.

January-June urea exports totaled 140,000 mt, according to Trade Data Monitor, down86% from the year-ago 1 million mt, when exports were partially restricted.

The tonnage reflected small-quantity sales, mostly shipped to buyers in the Southeast Asian market in containers. South Korea topped the buyer list with 53,000 mt. Sources said shipments were permitted to that country due to the need for urea as part of its anti-pollution program. Japan accounted for 12% of exports with 17,000 mt, while 15 countries bought a total of 51,000 mt in 1,000-9,000 mt lots. Another 33 countries received material in 1 mt-900 mt lots.

June exports were reported at 74,000 mt, down 67% from the 224,000 mt shipped in June 2023. Second-quarter sales to six countries totaled 114,000 mt, compared to the 483,000 mt spread between 50 countries in April-June 2023.

Brazil:

The urea market remained firm in Brazil, supported by the uptrend kicked off by India’s latest tender. Granular urea imports were steady at $360-$370/mt CFR, with bidding reported at $350-$358/mt CFR failing to attract a seller.

Rondonópolis prices were stable in the $480-$500/mt FOB range. Many growers have been cautious about taking positions due to the tight planting window, similar to what occurred in 2023.

While farmers have continued to request prices in an effort to keep tabs on the barter ratio for nitrogens, actual sales have slowed with growers focused on the corn harvest. As summer planting approaches, however, the nitrogen market is expected to heat up.

Argentina:    

January-June urea imports in Argentina totaled 411,000 mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, a 138% increase from the year-ago 172,000 mt. Algeria sent 136,000 mt, Nigeria shipped 110,000 mt, and Egypt added 67,000 mt. Bolivia and Turkmenistan accounted for another 50,000 mt each.

June imports were noted at 131,000 mt, up 70% from the 77,000 mt received one year earlier. Second-quarter imports were 210,000 mt, rising from the 144,000 mt purchased in April-June 2023.

UAN

California, Eastern Cornbelt, France, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., U.S. Gulf, UAN, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

The UAN barge market was unchanged at $202-$205/st ($6.31-$6.41/unit) FOB for limited new business.

Eastern Cornbelt:

UAN-32 continued at $245-$275/st ($7.66-$8.59/unit) FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low reported at Mount Vernon, Ind., and the high at Terre Haute, Ind. The Cincinnati market was unchanged at $248-$255/st ($7.75-$7.97/unit) FOB for UAN-32 and $217-$223.13/unit ($7.75-$7.97/unit) FOB for UAN-28.

Western Cornbelt:

UAN-32 was steady at $245-$275/st ($7.66-$8.59/unit) FOB regional terminals in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location. In the Northern Plains, delivered UAN-28 dropped to $275/st ($9.82/unit) for tons shipped from Canada.

California:

UAN-32 prices in California were up $10-$15/st, to $300/st ($9.38/unit) FOB. No current rail-DEL UAN prices were confirmed during the week.

Pacific Northwest:

UAN-32 was pegged at a flat $290/st ($9.06/unit) FOB in the Pacific Northwest.

Western Canada:

The latest UAN-28 offers in Western Canada edged up to C$395-$405/mt (C$14.11-$14.46/unit) DEL, up from C$385-$394/mt (C$13.75-$14.07/unit) DEL at last report.

France:

UAN prices at Rouen were flat at €245-€265/mt FCA, with no sales reported. The French market is estimated at about 60% covered for the new season, and some buyers are hoping for lower prices once market activity resumes following the current summer lull. No such indications have been given by producers, however.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium Nitrate, Market Watch, Southeast, Western Cornbelt

Western Cornbelt:

Ammonium nitrate prices in the Western Cornbelt were down sharply following a summer reset. The latest offers were quoted at $240-$250/st FOB in Missouri, down from $345-$360/st FOB. New pricing at El Dorado, Ark., was confirmed at the $230/st FOB level during the week.

Southeast:

Ammonium nitrate pricing in the Southeast plunged to $305-$310/st FOB Tampa, down from the last confirmed spring business at the $470/st FOB level.

Ammonium Sulfate

Ammonium Sulfate, Brazil, California, China, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Northwestern Europe, Pacific N.W., Southeast Asia, U.S. Gulf, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

The NOLA ammonium sulfate barge market firmed to $260-$270/st FOB based on limited business, up from the prior $245-$255/st FOB range, with the increase reportedly fueled by higher upriver terminal postings.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Granular ammonium sulfate started the week at $320-$325/st FOB river terminals in the Eastern Cornbelt. AdvanSix on July 23 announced a $20/st increase, however, with postings moving to $345/st FOB Upper Mississippi River warehouses and $340/st FOB Ohio river warehouses. The company said inland warehouses were at traditional premiums to river locations.

Western Cornbelt:

Granular ammonium sulfate was pegged at $325-$345/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the upper end reflecting new postings from AdvanSix on July 23 out of Upper Mississippi River terminals.

California:

The ammonium sulfate market remained at $375-$405/st FOB in California, with the low reported at Richvale and Helm and the high at French Camp.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium sulfate dropped to a broad $295-$420/st FOB or DEL range in the Pacific Northwest, depending on grade and supplier, with the low reflecting WesternStandard postings from IRM effective July 12. IRM’s postings for WesternPremium and Tranzform moved on that date to $345/st FOB or DEL in the Pacific Northwest.

Western Canada:

Ammonium sulfate pricing in Western Canada firmed slightly to C$460-$475/mt DEL from the previous C$450-$460/mt range.

Northwest Europe:

Standard ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe were unchanged this week at $160-$170/mt FOB, with buyers still largely disinterested in fresh tons. Producers are reportedly well committed through the summer, leaving prices stable despite muted demand.

China:

Demand from both Southeast Asia and Chinese domestic NPK producers widened the price range at China. Tenders in the Philippines and Indonesia set netbacks in the upper-$130s/mt FOB for caprolactam grade amsul. At the same time, demand from domestic NPK producers and distant buyers such as Brazil is helping to stabilize the upper end of the range.

Buyers in Brazil will reportedly continue to face difficulties in securing Chinese amsul as long as the government maintains its restrictions on fertilizer exports. One trader explained that because it is difficult to load a large vessel with only amsul, smaller lots – up to 10,000 mt – are often included in shipments of MAP or urea on large vessels.

With no urea shipments allowed in large quantities, piggybacking on phosphate shipments is the only option available. Unfortunately for amsul buyers, phosphate exports are also limited from China, though not to the same degree as urea.

China’s restrictions on urea exports have helped amsul exports. Trade Data Monitor reported January-June ammonium sulfate shipments at 6.5 million mt, up 13% from the 5.8 million mt shipped in first-half 2023. Brazil remained the largest single buyer with 1.3 million mt, followed by Myanmar with 755,000 mt. Another 86 other countries took the remaining 68% of exports, with 35 countries purchasing 1,000 mt or less.

June exports were 1.2 million mt, a slight increase from 1.1 million mt in June 2023. Second-quarter exports were up 14% year-over-year, to 3.4 million mt from 3 million mt.

Southeast Asia:         

Regional amsul demand is providing a steady price floor. The latest round of tenders from the Philippines and Indonesia indicated a netback to China in the upper-$130s/mt FOB.

Indonesia’s Pupuk is unhappy with current pricing levels, according to circulating reports. The Indonesian holding company is now trying to secure its amsul needs under a formula basis that would take the average of the posted Chinese FOB price and add a premium to cover handling and other costs incurred by traders.

The lowest bid for the premium was reported at $15/mt. A source noted, however, that shipping from China to Indonesia is currently $17-$18/mt. In addition to freight, the source described other handling costs, plus a small margin for profit, to be included. Some of the higher offers were said to include higher rates that would account for all of these costs, though no word on a potential award was reported from Indonesia.

Brazil:

Brazil granular ammonium sulfate was stable at last week’s $170-$180/mt CFR level. Though multiple bids were reported in the $160-$165/mt CFR range, no transactions were recorded at those levels.

Fertilizer purchases moved slowly at Rondonópolis, with most demand targeted for use in blends. Inland pricing dropped $15/mt at the top of the range, to $300-$305/mt FOB, with forward business noted as high as $315/mt FOB.

Limited availability from China could impact the softening market, however. Products shipped from China will require approximately three months to travel to Brazil, leaving August loadings to arrive in the fourth quarter. Calendar year-to-date fertilizer imports showed a reduction of nearly 8% compared to 2023, primarily due to a significant drop in June imports.

Sales of 20-00-20 increased for the 2025 second corn crop, with Rondonópolis pricing reported in the $390-$400/mt FOB range.

DAP/MAP

Argentina, Baltic Sea, Benelux, Brazil, California, Central Florida, China, DAP/MAP, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Morocco, Pacific N.W., U.S. Exports, U.S. Gulf, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

Central Florida:

Central Florida DAP trucks continued at $570/st FOB, while truck-loaded MAP offers were steady at $670/st FOB. North Florida MAP postings softened $20/st, to $610/st FOB from $630/st FOB at last report.

US Gulf:

An increase in NOLA phosphate activity saw DAP barges trading at $530-$547/st FOB, up from last week’s $530-$540/st FOB, with prices firming as the week progressed. MAP barges softened to $635-$645/st FOB, however, a $5-$10/st decline from last week’s $645-$650/st FOB.

US Exports:

The last US Gulf spot exports continued to be noted at $550/mt FOB for DAP and $570/mt FOB for MAP.

Eastern Cornbelt:

DAP continued at $585-$610/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low reported out of spot Illinois River terminals. MAP was quoted at $685-$700/st FOB in the region, with the low again confirmed on the Illinois River. The Cincinnati market remained at $605-$610/st FOB for DAP and $685-$695/st FOB for MAP in late July.

Western Cornbelt:

DAP was steady at $580-$600/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with MAP quoted at $690-$700/st FOB in late July. The St. Louis market remained at $580-$590/st FOB for DAP and $690-$695/st FOB for MAP.

California:

MAP slipped to a flat $760/st FOB or DEL for the latest offers in California, down the prior high of $790/st.

Pacific Northwest:

MAP in the Pacific Northwest was unchanged at $740-$750/st FOB or DEL in late July.

Western Canada:

MAP pricing in Western Canada edged up C$1,050-$1,060//mt FOB or DEL from the prior C$1,040/mt level.

Benelux:

DAP prices in Benelux were stable this week at €620-€630/mt FCA, with minimal activity reported as buyers remain skittish about building up stocks and application is still a while away. At midweek exchange rates, current prices reflected around $672-$682/mt FCA based on an appreciating US dollar against the euro.

Morocco:

Moroccan DAP prices were unchanged this week, with producer OCP’s sales yielding netbacks range-bound at the current $510-$625/mt FOB level. A significant volume was reportedly sold to South Asia at a netback of around $560/mt FOB, yet theoretical netbacks from India still point to lower prices at the lower end of the range.

Baltic:

MAP prices in the Baltic were flat at $585-$595/mt FOB this week, reflecting Brazilian CFR values, where demand has taken a break.

China:

DAP and MAP export data from Trade Data Monitor illustrated the impact of China’s export restrictions in 2024. January-June DAP shipments were reported at 1.5 million mt, down 37% from the 2.4 million mt noted during the first half of 2023, when restrictions were not as tight. India took 372,000 mt, Vietnam bought 243,000 mt, and Thailand received 198,000 mt.

First-quarter sales were reported at 141,000 mt with restrictions in place, while April-June exports climbed to 1.4 million mt as restrictions eased. Second-quarter 2023 exports were pegged at 1.8 million mt. June DAP exports were 483,000 mt, down from 928,000 mt in June 2023.

First-half MAP exports barely shifted year-over-year, lifting to 934,000 mt from 927,000 mt in January-June 2023. Brazil was the largest buyer with 386,000 mt, followed by Argentina with 134,000 mt

June MAP exports of 320,000 mt were markedly higher than the 49,000 mt shipped in June 2023, as the restrictions on phosphate exports eased in May-June 2024. Conversely, the restrictions were being imposed last year during the same timeframe. Second-quarter exports were 815,000 mt, up significantly from the 393,000 mt shipped in April-June 2023.

Brazil:

Landed MAP prices continued at $630-$640/mt CFR, players noted. Despite a 41% surge in June MAP imports compared to last year, year-to-date imports were down 22%, forcing growers to look to other products for their phosphate needs.

A limited supply of ships available for transporting product to Brazil is adding pressure to short-term supply. Purchasing volumes will be crucial over the next month, as August shipments will arrive at the beginning of the harvest, potentially impacting delivery. July import lineups tracked about 20% below last year.

Inland MAP prices firmed $5/mt at the top of the range, to $760-$790/mt FOB Rondonópolis, driven in part by limited availability and demand for the soybean crop. With roughly 15%-20% of the summer crop remaining to be purchased, difficulty in finding high-concentration phosphates could impact productivity, sources said.

Argentina:    

January-June MAP imports firmed slightly from first-half 2023, according to Trade Data Monitor, lifting to 297,000 mt from 272,000 mt. Morocco led suppliers with 230,000 mt, for about 77% of the imports.

June imports were reported at 110,000 mt, down about 20% from 138,000 mt in June 2023. Second-quarter imports were 235,000 mt, up 8% from the 217,000 mt received in April-June 2023.

TSP

Brazil, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Triple Superphosphate, U.S. Gulf, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

NOLA TSP barges moved up $15/st at the low side, to $505-$515/st FOB from the prior $490-$512/st FOB level.

Eastern Cornbelt:

TSP was unchanged at $550-$565/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the high confirmed at Cincinnati.

Western Cornbelt:

TSP was pegged at $550-$560/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt.

Brazil:

Brazil TSP prices increased to a flat $530/mt CFR from last week’s $510-$530/mt CFR range. TSP remained unavailable at Rondonópolis during the week.

SSP

Brazil, Market Watch, SSP

Brazil:

SSP prices softened to $200-$240/mt CFR in Brazil, off from the $215-$250/mt CFR reported last week. Reports indicated ample availability, with most seasonal demand already covered. January-June SSP imports grew 33.8% year-over-year.

The Rondonópolis market followed the broader phosphate market higher, to $360-$380/mt FOB from $355-$380/mt FOB, with sources reporting adequate supply. SSP-23 saw even higher availability, with prices noted at $400-$410/mt FOB.