All posts by hlancey@bloomberg.net

Sulfur

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

Tampa:

The second-quarter Tampa molten sulfur contract was valued at $81/lt CFR, a 17.4% increase from $69/lt CFR in the first quarter.

US Gulf:

US Gulf sulfur prices strengthened 9.6% in the latest round of confirmed business, to $87-$90/mt FOB from the week-ago $80-$81.50 /mt FOB. Morocco and Brazil have been active buyers, pushing up prices in several FOB markets.

US Imports:

Sulfur imports were off 12.9% in July-February, slipping to 1.63 million st from 1.87 million st in the prior year. February imports moved 27.4% lower, to 186,647 st from the year-ago 257,066 st. Canadian cargoes were noted at 877,729 st in July-February, followed by Saudi Arabia with 153,070 st. Mexico sent 118,440 st, ahead of 115,396 st from Iraq.

US Exports:

Sulfur exports moved up 5.9% in February, to 207,844 st from 196,274 st in February 2023. July-February exports firmed 5.8%, to 1.55 million st from the year-ago 1.47 million st. Brazil took 760,296 st in July-February, ahead of 399,955 st to Mexico and 176,631 st to New Caledonia. The US shipped 135,181 st to Morocco.

Brazil:

Brazil sulfur firmed to $115-$117/mt CFR, rising from $111-$114/mt CFR at last report, with additional demand still waiting to be covered.

Vancouver:   

Vancouver solid sulfur pricing increased to $77-$80/mt FOB, up $5/mt from last week’s $72-$75/mt FOB range.

Alberta:

Alberta sulfur netbacks held steady at (-)$34-$11/mt FOB, with both molten sulfur cargoes contracted into the US market and solid material shipped offshore through the Vancouver export market represented in the range.

West Coast:

West Coast prills followed the Vancouver market to $77-$80/mt FOB. Second-quarter molten sulfur contracts were valued at $60-$62/lt FOB, up from $50-$55/lt FOB in 1Q.

China:

China sulfur prices were adjusted to $105-$109/mt CFR, down $1/mt from $106-$110/mt CFR in the prior report. Tons shipped to southern ports established the bottom of the range while deliveries to river ports accounted for the high. Port sulfur inventories remain around 3 million mt, according to sources. No new demand is expected in the near term.

Indonesia has been actively purchasing product in the $109-$114/mt CFR range, however, with sources noting brisk demand in that market.

ADNOC:

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) sulfur firmed to $83/mt FOB Ruwais for April loading, up 6.4% from $78/mt FOB in March and in line with April postings reported from Muntajat and Kuwait. While spot transactions were reported at $90-$91/mt FOB, the higher-priced business is unusual, sources said, and demonstrates the strength of the current market.

Qatar:

April Muntajat prices were posted at $83/mt FOB Ras Laffan, a $5/mt increase from $78/mt FOB in March.

Sulfuric Acid

Brazil, Market Watch, Sulfuric Acid, U.S. Exports, U.S. Gulf, U.S. Imports

US Gulf:

Sulfuric acid prices strengthened to $130/mt CFR in the US Gulf, a 30% increase from last week’s $95-$105/mt CFR.

US Imports:

Sulfuric acid imports firmed 8.5% in July-February, to 2.49 million st from 2.30 million st in the same prior year period. Imports were up 10.7% in February, to 288,833 st from the year-ago 260,946 st. July-February imports from Canada totaled 1.32 million st, Mexico sent 467,273 st, and Spain shipped 233,520 st.

US Exports:

Sulfuric acid exports strengthened 2.8% in February, to 14,456 st from 14,059 st in February 2023. July-February totals softened 60.5% year-over-year, however, to 128,970 st from 326,386 st. July-February exports to Canada were noted at 87,431 st, ahead of 26,843 st to Mexico. Uruguay took 4,409 st.

Brazil:

The Brazil sulfuric acid market firmed to $135/mt CFR, up $10-$15/mt from $120-$125/mt CFR in the prior report.

Ammonium Thiosulfate

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

Eastern Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was steady at $270-$310/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at Terre Haute, Ind. Michigan terminals were quoted in the $290-$320/st FOB range at mid-month, depending on location.

Western Cornbelt:

Ammonium thiosulfate remained at $280-$300/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at Waterloo, Iowa.

California:

Ammonium thiosulfate pricing was steady at $325-$340/st FOB in California.

Pacific Northwest:

Pricing for ammonium thiosulfate was unchanged at $305-$315/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest, with rail-DEL offers reported in the $295-$305/st range on a spot basis.

Western Canada:

Ammonium thiosulfate strengthened to the C$480/mt DEL level in Saskatchewan, up C$45/mt from mid-March.

CAN

California, CAN, CAN-17, Germany, Market Watch, Pacific N.W.

California:

CAN-17 pricing in California was pegged at $330-$345/st FOB in mid-April, depending on location.

Pacific Northwest:

The CAN-17 market was steady at $332/st FOB Kennewick in mid-April.

Germany:

CAN prices in Germany retreated to €260-€270/mt CIF, due largely to wet weather hampering fieldwork. With an improving weather forecast into mid-April, product movement is reported to be fairly robust at these lower levels. Suppliers are hoping for a demand boost in May for both grassland and corn applications.

Potassium Sulfate

California, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Potassium Sulfate, U.S. Exports, U.S. Imports

US Imports:

July-February SOP imports fell 53.2% year-over-year, to 32,591 st from 69,698 st. February imports were down 78.2%, dropping to 3,154 st from 14,495 st. Imports from Canada were counted at 19,393 st in July-February, while Germany added 8,363 st and Taiwan sent 2,100 st. 

US Exports:

SOP exports for February dropped 72.4% year-over-year, to 1,804 st from 6,531 st. July-February shipments were 51.0% lower, at 17,898 st compared to 36,551 st through the same prior year period. Mexico purchased 8,606 st of US product in July-February, followed by Canada with 5,472 st. Exports to Singapore were steady at 2,142 st.

California:

The SOP market was steady at $640-$650/st FOB in California, with the low reported at Stockton.

Pacific Northwest:

The SOP market remained at $640-$650/st FOB for the last offers in the Pacific Northwest.