All posts by mickeybarb@charter.net

Ammonium Polyphosphate

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

Eastern Cornbelt:

10-34-0 was unchanged at $665-$675/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt.

Western Cornbelt:

10-34-0 remained at $655-$675/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low in Nebraska and the high in Iowa.

California:

The 10-34-0 market in California remained at $691-$696/st FOB Helm, with 11-37-0 pricing referenced at $753/st FOB El Centro.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium polyphosphate prices were up slightly in the Pacific Northwest. Effective Dec. 17, 10-34-0 postings firmed $5/st, to $680/st FOB Hedges, Wash., while 11-37-0 postings moved up $10/st, to $735/st FOB Hedges and $715/st DEL in Idaho.

Western Canada:

10-34-0 pricing in Western Canada edged up slightly to C$955-$965/mt DEL for December-January.

Muriate of Potash

Brazil, California, China, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Potash Muriate, South Korea, U.S. Exports, U.S. Gulf, U.S. Imports, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

US Gulf:

The NOLA potash barge market was quiet ahead of the holidays at $480-$490/st FOB.

US Imports:

Imports of potash fell 31.7% for October, to 835,777 st from the year-ago 1.22 million st. July-October totals stood at 3.85 million st, off 14.7% from 4.52 million st.

July-October imports originating from Canada stood at 3.37 million st. Russia added 345,760 st, ahead of 105,984 st from Israel.

US Exports:

Exports moved down 17.0% in July-October, to 1.23 million st from the year-ago 1.48 million st. Cargoes were noted at 231,852 st for October, off 36.5% compared to 365,350 st posted one year earlier.

Eastern Cornbelt:

The potash market remained at $540-$560/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low confirmed for producer fill offers launched in mid-December.

Western Cornbelt:

Potash was steady at $540-$550/st FOB for fill and prompt offers in the Western Cornbelt.

California:

Potash fill pricing in California was down significantly from the last prompt business. The market was confirmed at $603-$649/st FOB in the state, depending on grade and location, with the low at Plymouth and the high at Modesto. Rail-DEL fill tons were pegged at the $688/st level.

Pacific Northwest:

Fill offers for potash were reported at $588-$600/st FOB in Washington and Oregon, well below the last $815-$865/st FOB prompt levels, with the low confirmed for 60% MOP and the high for 62% MOP. Delivered potash fill pricing was pegged at $600-$608/st in Washington.

Western Canada:

Fill prices for potash reportedly dropped to a low of C$815-$830/mt FOB Saskatchewan mines, while reference pricing for prompt tons from some producers was still holding at the C$920/mt FOB level in late December.

Brazil:   

Prices for MOP softened to $480-$520/mt CFR. Sources said only buyers looking for large tons and prompt delivery were afforded the lower price. Some sellers are reportedly backing off from active trading because they have filled their January order books.

The Rondonopolis range expanded as sellers anticipate higher prices in early 2023, while buyers are pushing for deals. Sources put the price at $650-$690/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

South Korea:

January-November MOP imports stood at 622,000 mt, according to Trade Data Monitor, down13% year-over-year from 718,000 mt. Canada was the main supplier with 464,000 mt, followed by Israel with 95,000 mt.

November imports were reported at 34,000 mt, falling about 40% from 58,000 mt noted for November 2021. Canada accounted for 94% of the material with 32,000 mt.

China:   

MOP imports for January-November were reported at 7.4 million mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, unchanged from the year-ago period. Canada topped the list of suppliers with 2.3 million mt, followed by Belarus with 1.8 million mt and 1.6 million mt from Russia.

November imports were recorded at 639,000 mt, down slightly from 694,000 mt received in November 2021. Canadian product accounted for 57% of the November market at 367,000 mt, followed by Belarus with 183,000 mt.

India:

Indian Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL) closed a request for proposal (RFP) on Dec. 22 for entering into a long-term agreement (MOU) with potash producers for 250,000 mt firm of standard pink/red/white potash. The tons were to be shipped over a 12-month period from the date of contract signing, or a mutually-agreed timeline (GM Dec. 16, p. 14; Dec. 2, p. 16 ).

Sulfur

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

Tampa:

Price increases recorded in a number of international markets relative to October were likely to lift Tampa molten sulfur in the first quarter, market watchers agreed.

Some continued to describe expectations of a $70-$80/lt increase from the fourth-quarter’s $90/lt CFR contract, while others, noting recent softening at Brazil, China, and possibly North Africa, softened speculation to a $50-$70/lt increase. One player named $150/lt CFR as a commonly referenced landing spot for updated contracts, a $60/lt rise compared to 4Q levels.

US refining capacity pressed lower for the week ending Dec. 16, according to data compiled by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Refineries operated at a combined 90.9% of capacity through the period, down 1.3 percentage points from the week-ago 92.2%. The current rate led both the year-ago 89.6% and 88.9% five-year average.

Crude inputs also moved lower, falling below the 16 million barrel/d mark for the first time since Oct. 28. Inputs averaged 15.976 million barrels/d, down 150,000 barrels/d from 16.126 million barrels/d in the prior report.

US Imports:

Sulfur imports for July-October were off 11.7% from the year-ago, to 928,463 st from 1.05 million st. October imports declined 20.0%, to 222,081 st from the prior 277,741 st.

US Exports:

Sulfur exports rose 78.5% in July-October, to 789,049 st from the year-ago 442,052 st. Shipments were noted at 269,339 st for October, up 91.3% from the year-ago 140,776 st.

US Gulf:

Price ideas on sulfur loading from the US Gulf continued to be noted in a $155-$165/mt FOB range, unchanged from one week earlier.

Brazil:

Trading on the Brazil import market was reported softening to $194/mt CFR, falling from $204-$205/mt CFR at last check.

Contracts for sulfur delivered in the fourth quarter were quoted in a $119-$138/mt CFR range.

Vancouver:   

Players continued to call the recent Vancouver market in a $160-$170/mt FOB range.

Alberta:

Netbacks on molten and prilled sulfur loading from Alberta were indicated at a wide (-)$25-$100/mt FOB, unchanged from one week earlier.

West Coast:

Solid sulfur loading from the West Coast was indicated at $160-$170/mt FOB, unmoved from the prior report.

Sources reported fourth-quarter molten sulfur contracts at $75-$79/lt FOB, down from $370-$385/lt FOB in the third quarter.

China:     

Last-done China spot imports continued to be called $188-$190/mt CFR, steady from the prior report.

ADNOC:

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. offers for December were noted at $180/mt FOB. Softening values in a number of international markets could push Middle East offers lower in January, some suggested.

Qatar:

Muntajat prills were reportedly posted at $185/mt FOB Ras Laffan, a $36/mt increase from $149/mt FOB in November.

Kuwait:

Kuwait sulfur offers were heard at $183/mt FOB for December lifting.

Sulfuric Acid

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

US Gulf:

US Gulf import market prices were unmoved in a $100-$110/mt CFR range.

Negotiations for 2023 US rail-delivered contracts were running later than usual, with some agreements reported to remain unconcluded on Dec. 22. Sellers on Dec. 16 noted discussions underway around the $140/st DEL mark for the Gulf Coast and Midwest markets, while West Coast pricing was targeted closer to $150/st DEL.

US Imports:

Sulfuric acid imports for October decreased 16.7%, to 245,986 st from the prior-year 295,158 st. Imports totaled 1.17 million st in the July-October period, off 2.4% year-over-year from 1.20 million st.

US Exports:

Exports for July-October 2022 firmed 13.8%, to 177,194 st from 155,728 st in July-October 2021. October totals were reported at 59,538 st, up 98.6% from 29,977 st posted one year earlier.

Brazil:

With nothing new reported, price ideas on sulfuric acid imported to Brazil continued in a $115-$125/mt CFR range.

Ammonium Thiosulfate

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

Eastern Cornbelt:

Ammonium thiosulfate was steady at $450-$475/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location and time of shipment, with the high confirmed at Cincinnati. Recent spring pricing offers FOB Ottawa, Ill., were confirmed at the $465/st FOB level.

Western Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was unchanged at $400-$450/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low in Nebraska and the high in Iowa.

California:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was unchanged at $500-$530/st FOB in California.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium thiosulfate pricing in the Pacific Northwest was steady at $422-$427/st FOB terminals in Washington.

Sulfate of Potash

California, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Specialty, Sulfate of Potash, U.S. Exports, U.S. Imports

US Imports:

October SOP imports were recorded at 4,093 st, rising 38.5% from the year-ago 2,954 st. July-October volumes were noted at 24,662 st, however, a 56.6% decline from the year-ago 56,767 st.

US Exports:

SOP export totals firmed 176.2% in October, to 8,547 st from the prior-year 3,094 st. Exports were counted at 21,477 st for July-October, 20.6% above the year-ago 17,810 st.

California:

SOP pricing in California covered a wide range at $900-$1,010/st FOB, with the low reported at Stockton and the high at Chico. Sources said they expect the higher prices to drop after the first of the year.

Pacific Northwest:

Granular SOP pricing remained at $1,000-$1,055/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest.