All posts by mickeybarb@charter.net

Cinis Fertilizer Advances SOP Plans

News, News Briefs, Scandinavia, Specialty, Sulfate of Potash

Swedish green tech company Cinis Fertilizer, Lund, has signed an agreement with E.ON Energidistribution for a power connection to the company’s first planned production facility for environmentally friendly sulfate of potash (SOP).

The connection agreement secures Cinis Fertilizer’s estimated need for 7MW of electricity. The facility in Köpmanholmen will be powered by fossil-free electricity, and the company said it will be the first in the world to produce a circular mineral fertilizer from waste products from pulp mills and electric car battery production.

“Our entire business idea is based on environmentally friendly mineral fertilizer production without emissions,” said Jakob Liedberg, Cinis CEO and Founder. “Access to fossil-free electricity is an important piece of the puzzle to achieve this, and we look forward to collaborating with E.ON in the continued work to establish our first production facility in Köpmanholmen.”

The power connection is to be completed well before the commissioning of the production facility, which is expected to take place during the second half of 2023. Cinis told Green Markets the first plant is expected to produce 100,000 mt/y of SOP. A second plant, expected up in mid-2025, would produce 200,000 mt/y.

South Harz Potash Ltd. – Management Brief

Australia, Management Briefs, Potash

Junior miner South Harz Potash Ltd., West Perth, Western Australia, reported on May 20 the appointment of its existing Chairman, Ian Farmer, to the role of Acting Executive Chairman. This appointment follows the immediate departure of previous Managing Director and CEO Chris Gilchrist from the business.

“I am pleased to assume the role of Executive Chairman to facilitate the current senior leadership transition,” said Farmer. “South Harz is moving through an exciting phase with the recent completion of the Ohmgebirge confirmatory drilling, coupled with the scheduled resource update and then Scoping Study completion.

“I look forward to actively driving the business through this phase as we rapidly progress our South Harz Potash assets through development and into production,” Farmer continued. “On behalf of the Board and all shareholders, I would like to thank Chris for his commitment and dedicated service to South Harz over the past four years. We wish him well in both his future professional and personal endeavors.”

A global search process for the appointment of South Harz’s next CEO is underway. Upon that appointment, it is expected that Farmer will step back from executive duties and resume the role of Non-Executive Chairman.

Alongside this process, the company plans to establish its key operational management and personnel hub in Thuringia, Germany. This will place the core operational team in the South Harz region as the business seeks to rapidly advance its potash assets through development and into production.

The company noted that Farmer is a U.K.-based, highly experienced mining executive. He served as CEO of Lonmin plc, the third largest platinum miner globally, between 2008-2012, during which he oversaw a period of significant transformation, both operationally and financially.

During his 26 years at Lonmin and its parent company, Lonrho plc, he held various other senior financial and management positions, including the role of Chief Strategy Officer from 2001-2008. He also led the acquisition of various junior mining projects and their integration into the Lonmin group.

Ammonia

Ammonia, Black Sea, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Market Watch, Middle East, North Africa, Northwestern Europe, South Central, Southeast Asia, Southern Plains, Tampa, U.S. Gulf, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf/Tampa:

Most sources see the Tampa price as under pressure for June. Citing softer international prices, they speculate it could come off $300-$400/mt CFR from May’s $1,425/mt CFR.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Reference ammonia prices remained at $1,450-$1,475/st FOB Eastern Cornbelt terminals during the week, with the low reported in Illinois and Indiana and the high at Lima, Ohio. Sources said prices were under pressure and “negotiable,” however, with sales confirmed at $1,400/st FOB in the region.

Sources said preplant ammonia movement was essentially over in the region, as efforts now focus exclusively on planting. Estimates were of at least a 20% reduction in preplant volumes from normal due to a range of factors, including the delayed start, a robust fall application season, and some price resistance at the retail level.

Western Cornbelt:

With preplant demand winding down in the region, sources said ammonia terminal prices were under pressure. The Western Cornbelt market continued to fall in the $1,355-$1,450/st FOB range, depending on location, with the low reported at Port Neal, Iowa, and the high at Palmyra, Mo.

“Application is definitely behind due to weather,” said one Missouri contact at midweek. “Some spotty application is going this week, but we’re still having pop-up thundershowers, with more expected today.”

Southern Plains:

Ammonia pricing in the Southern Plains slipped to $1,200-$1,300/st regional production points, down $25-$50/st from the last reported offers, with the low quoted at Enid, Woodward, and Pryor, Okla., and the high at Coffeyville, Kan.

“I’m expecting a fill announcement yet this month from one of the manufacturers,” said one regional ammonia contact. “First out gains that much needed tank space. How aggressive will it have to be to get dealers/farmers to bite?”

South Central:

Sources continued to quote truck offers for anhydrous ammonia at $1,300/st FOB Louisiana production points and $1,400/st FOB Cherokee, Ala. No prices were reportedly being offered at El Dorado, Ark., or Midway, Tenn.

Black Sea:

The lack of access to Ukrainian ports prevents any efforts to deal with ammonia pricing from the area. Sources said there is no way to calculate from other sources what the price would be because vessels are not allowed into the war zone.

India:

Sources said the only material flowing into India so far has been cargoes contracted earlier or those under price-formula agreements. The lack of spot tons leaves the price just above $1,100/mt CFR.

Sources said demand for ammonia from DAP producers is limited because it is currently more expensive to produce DAP in India than to import the product. As a result, ammonia imports seem to be primarily going to industrial buyers with only a portion going to DAP production.

Middle East:

Producers will tell anyone who asks that there are no spot tons available. At the same time, however, sources reported some vessels being loaded that appear to be outside usual long-term deals.

There are reports that a couple of vessels are being loaded by Trammo under what sources call price-formula deals. Sources put the price for these cargoes at $950-$1,000/mt FOB, which is about where potential buyers are also calling the spot market.

A softness in the global ammonia market has led buyers to be more aggressive in demanding lower prices. Sources said nothing will be completed from the Arab Gulf over $1,000/mt FOB because of this.

Northwest Europe:

Sources said the current market is pegged at $1,200/mt C&F based on the estimated break-even price for European-produced ammonia and on recent OCP purchases.

The price to produce one ton of ammonia is now reported at $1,100 because of the high cost of natural gas. Some deals are able to be done at this level, said traders, but there is a growing effort to push back against further increases. The major obstacle to lower prices remains the high price of natural gas. Sources said at a certain point producers cannot give any more concessions to buyers without losing money.

Recent purchases by OCP, when calculated back to a Northwest Europe-equivalent price, confirms pricing around $1,200/mt C&F. Sources warned, however, it is difficult to impose prices from one region on another in the current market. Many of the traditional price relationships have fallen aside under new trading patterns and volatile markets for inputs, such as natural gas.

North Africa:

Phosphate giant OCP has so far been able to make up for the ammonia it no longer gets from the Black Sea. At the same time, it is also able to stem rising prices and push some levels down.

Sources said the price into Morocco is now pegged at $1,070-$1,080/mt CFR. This past week reportedly included at least one deal from Egypt. This vessel is slated to ship within the next week or so. Already on their way to Morocco is a vessel from Argentina and another from Donaldsonville, La.

At the same time, sources reported OCP agents are once again talking with Kaltim about a cargo for June loading.

Southeast Asia:

Indonesia is accepting lower bids for its ammonia. Sources said a deal for 25,000 mt was done at $920-$930/mt FOB for an early June loading. This is down from the $1,125/mt FOB Kaltim was asking just three weeks ago in its selling tender.

Reportedly, buyers in Taiwan and South Korea are now paying $900-$1,000/mt CFR for their purchases. At the same time, these major buyers seem to be stepping back from their usual demand, forcing sellers to either build up reserves or accept lower prices right away.

Despite a current climate of softer demand, South Korean imports for the first four months of the year were up compared to the same period last year, according to Trade Data Monitor. Imports for January-April 2022 were reported at 527,000 mt, up 27% from the 472,000 mt brought in during the same period last year.

April 2022 imports were reported at 119,000 mt, up from the 92,000 mt imported in April 2021. The two suppliers to South Korea in April 2022 were Saudi Arabia with 65,000 mt and Indonesia with 53,000 mt.

Urea

Brazil, China, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Indonesia, Market Watch, Middle East, Pakistan, South Central, South Korea, Southeast, Southeast Asia, Southern Plains, U.S. Gulf, Urea, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf:

NOLA granular barges continued to drift lower at $615-$635/st FOB, down from the week-ago $630-$645/st FOB. Some sources were hopeful that better inland weather would mean firm prices next week, at least for inland markets.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Urea prices continued to decline at mid-month. The regional market was pegged at $685-$705/st FOB, depending on location. Most river terminals in the Illinois and Indiana markets fell in the $685-$700/st FOB range, while the Cincinnati, Ohio, price was reported at $695-$705/st FOB during the week, down from $725-$735/st FOB the week before.

In the Great Lakes region, new urea offers FOB Toledo, Ohio, were reported at the $760/st level during the week.

Western Cornbelt:

Urea was quoted at $680-$705/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, down $10/st from the previous week’s high, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and the upper end reported on a spot basis in the Iowa market. Pricing FOB Caruthersville, Mo., was pegged at the $700/st FOB level at midweek.

Southern Plains:

The Southern Plains urea market was quoted at $670-$710/st FOB, with the low at Catoosa/Inola, Okla., and sellers reportedly “willing to consider offers.” The high end of the range was reported at Houston, Texas, at midweek.

The drought was impacting movement in the region. “We had a pretty fair run at the end of April, but above-normal temps and below-normal precipitation has been a recipe for limited activity the past couple of weeks,” commented one Texas source.

Added another Kansas contact: “Buyers are looking at the end of the season, buying single loads, one at a time and as they need them.”

South Central:

Fueled by further declines in NOLA barge pricing, urea terminal prices continued to fall in the South Central region. Sources quoted the market at $685-$720/st FOB, down another $5-$10/st from the previous week, with the low confirmed out of river terminals in Kentucky and the high at Convent, La. Other spot prices during the week included $700/st FOB Shreveport, La., $705-$710/st FOB Memphis, Tenn., and $715/st FOB Little Rock, Ark.

Southeast:

Urea prices in the Southeast slipped to $780-$810/st FOB port terminals in mid-May, down significantly from the $950-$1,010/st FOB levels reported in late April. The high end of the range was confirmed at Savannah, Ga., with the Wilmington, N.C., market quoted in the $780-$790/st FOB range. No urea was reportedly available at Norfolk, Va.

India:

RCF will take 1.7 million mt of urea from its tender of May 11. The price was earlier set at $716.50/mt CFR for West Coast deliveries and $721.30/mt CFR for East Coast deliveries.

The tonnage to cover the awards will primarily come from the Arab Gulf, sources reported. There will be cargoes from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt as well. Sources also noted that Dreymoor had indicated sourcing from the Black Sea. Traders said these tons are most likely from Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan rather than from Russia, because of the difficulty getting financing for any Russian product.

Offering Company Quantity Source
Samsung 420,000 Middle East-Vietnam-China-Egypt
OQ Trading 300,000  
Swiss Singapore 300,000  
SABIC 135,000  
Dreymoor 112,000 Black Sea-Baltic Sea
Ameropa 92,000 Middle East-Indonesia
Keytrade 90,000 Oman
OCI Trading 80,000  
Midgulf 45,000  
Koch 47,000 China
Fertchem 50,000  
Total 1,671,000

The take in the tender will ease pressure on the Indian government to deliver much-needed urea to the farmers as the application season begins. However, sources said the government will have to repeat this order at least twice more to get the supply chain in shape for the rest of the year.

Another tender will have to called soon. Traders speculated the next call may not come until vessels are nominated to cover the tons awarded in this tender. This means the past practice of an Indian company calling a tender during an IFA meeting may not happen.

The annual IFA conference will be held the last week of May in Vienna. Sources said this does not give enough time to prepare for another tender. The earliest source said another tender might be called is mid-June.

Pakistan:

The government upped the amount of urea it wants imported. Earlier in the year the government was ready to authorize the importation of 100,000 mt. Now it wants 200,000 mt.

Initially, the committee discussing the proposal wanted TCP to open talks with urea producing countries for a government-to-government purchase of 200,000 mt, and to prepare documents to purchase the same amount in a public tender.

An outcry from the financing agencies reportedly forced the committee to back off on the two-prong approach. When international traders first heard rumors that Pakistan might try to import some urea, they shared a universal concern. Where, they wondered, would Pakistan get the money to purchase the product, especially at a time when prices are still at high levels?

In the end, the committee authorized TCP to move forward with the government-to-government deal. Such arrangements have been done in the past, with Saudi Arabia being the main backer. Product from SABIC has been sent to Pakistan under friendly terms from lower prices to long-term payment plans. In this case, the Pakistan government is hoping for both.

Middle East:

The netback to the Arab Gulf from the RCF/India tender is put at $685-$690/mt FOB. The price is a sizable drop from the $780/mt FOB that Fertiglobe offered into the tender. However, it is better than the $682.30/mt FOB countered by RCF. Fertiglobe rejected the counterbid.

Also prior to the awards being issued, Fertiglobe reportedly said it was shipping two cargoes of granular urea at $716/mt FOB. One cargo reportedly is for an African buyer and the other for an Asian buyer.

Sources expect Middle East prices to firm. After RCF takes its cargoes from the area, another tender will need to be called by India. About the time of the second tender, sources said, Australian buyers will begin inquiring about material for the second half of the year. Pakistan is also looking for 200,000 mt from the area in a government-to-government deal.

Stepped up interest in purchasing product from the area will come as China remains out of the market as a major supplier. Russia will also be out as a viable source of urea unless the situation changes in Ukraine. All told, supply is expected to be tight as demand picks up.

Soon after RCF began announcing its awards, Egyptian producers stepped up with sales. The week opened with MOPCO selling 6,000 mt at $700/mt FOB. By the end of the week, $720/mt FOB was done and producers were pushing for $730/mt FOB.

Sources said buyers in Europe saw the Indian prices as a solid floor and decided to move to cover their summer and fall needs before prices moved too far up on further demand.

Indonesia:

Kaltim closed a sale for 45,000 mt of granular urea at $680/mt FOB for June shipment. This is a drop from the last done business just a few weeks ago at $720/mt FOB, but one that fits with the Indian tender numbers.

Reportedly, Kaltim was hoping to move about 120,000 mt in June and July loadings. Sources said talks are taking place with traders to secure deals for the remaining quantity.

Southeast Asia:

Sources said Vietnamese urea was able to be offered into India as a result of several factors falling into place.

Farmers in Vietnam have been pushing back against the rising prices coming from the domestic producers. While the price was high for the domestic market, sources said they fit in nicely with the Indian tender. Reportedly, Samsung picked up two cargoes to be part of its awards from RCF.

A sale to the area came in at $745/mt CFR with more buyers clamoring for material. The price reflects the strength provided to prices from the price floor set by India and by the aggressive selling of material from Egypt.

China:

The netback from the Indian tender to China was put at $685-$690/mt FOB. This amount supports a rule of thumb that the netback prices out of China and the Arab Gulf run at about the same levels despite the differences in freight costs to India.

Sources said the Chinese government is reviewing the list of fertilizers that will remain under export restrictions. Urea is bound to remain on the list, said traders. Sources also said the government is prepared to keep the export restrictions in place through June 2023.

The restrictions are not a full ban on exports. Customs officials give plants permission to export their product once the government officials are convinced supplies to the domestic market will not be affected.

Sources said the permission to export is unique to the plant making the request. Reportedly, one company applied for permission to fulfill an order with an international trader and was given permission to send its urea offshore. As the vessel was loading, however, sources said the ship was seized and the plant was fined. It seems the urea being loaded came from a different factory under the aegis of the first company.

International traders noted that this is the first time customs officials secured urea as it was loading. Sources said the process to seek permission had to start all over again, but this time with the customs officials looking at the impact shipping urea from the second company would have on the domestic market.

The action also made it clear to producers and traders that swaps – once a standard practice in the industry – will not be allowed.

South Korea:

Imports for January-April 2022 were reported at 432,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor. This is a 22% jump from the 353,000 mt imported during the same period of 2021.

April 2022 imports were reported at 105,000 mt, compared to the 90,000 mt in April 2021. Chinese urea accounted for 40,000 mt, or 38% of the imported urea during April. Qatar came in with another 34,000 mt for 32% of imports. Vietnam and Indonesia came in with 16,000 mt and 14,000 mt, respectively.

Brazil:

The lower end of the market softened as demand dropped for immediate loadings of product. Sources put the landed price at $690-$740/mt CFR.

Sources said dryness in the sugar cane and corn areas have farmers holding off on making their purchases for 2022/23 use. At the same time, farmers are rebelling against the high price of urea, refusing to buy anything until absolutely needed. The lack of major movement in the market is having the desired effect of lowering prices – at least desired by buyers.

The Rondonópolis price dropped significantly as buyers refuse to buy product at higher prices. Sources put the level this week at $820-$900/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Sources said only a few small deals took place, forcing distributors to keep holding on to product while more tons come in from the ports.

UAN

Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, South Central, Southeast, Southern Plains, U.S. Gulf, UAN, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf:

While most continued to call NOLA UAN barges at $620-$630/st ($19.38-$19.69/unit) FOB, some speculated that prices may be ready to move down.

Eastern Cornbelt:

With efforts now starting to turn to sidedress applications, sources reported steady UAN pricing in the region. The UAN-32 market was quoted at $660-$670/st ($20.63-$20.94/unit) FOB, depending on location, with the low confirmed at Mount Vernon, Ind., and Ottawa, Ill., and the high at Terra Haute, Ind. Other terminal offers included $660-$665/st ($20.63-$20.78/unit) FOB Peru, Ill., and $665/st ($20.78/unit) FOB Cincinnati.

The last reported UAN-28 offers at Cincinnati included $590-$595/st ($21.07-$21.25/unit) FOB.

Western Cornbelt:

The UAN-32 market was reported at $630-$660/st ($19.69-$20.63/unit) FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low at Port Neal. Pricing at St. Louis had reportedly dropped to $640/st ($20.00/unit) FOB, down $10/st from last report. Sources said sidedress demand was just starting to kick in in some parts of the region.

Southern Plains:

UAN-32 pricing out of regional production points was quoted at $620-$645/st ($19.38-$20.16/unit) FOB in mid-May, depending on location, down roughly $20/st from last report. Offers out of Gulf Coast terminals in Texas were reported at the $650/st ($20.31/unit) FOB level.

South Central:

The UAN-32 market was pegged at $640-$660/st ($20.00-$20.63/unit) FOB in the South Central region, down $10/st from last report, depending on location.

Southeast:

UAN-32 prices in the Southeast were generally unchanged at $625-$640/st ($19.53-$20.00/unit) FOB inland terminals in Georgia, $640/st ($20.00/unit) FOB Savannah, and $661-$670/st ($20.66-$20.94/unit) FOB Wilmington and Norfolk.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium Nitrate, Market Watch, South Central, Southern Plains, U.S. Gulf, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf:

The very thinly-trade NOLA ammonium nitrate market was reported in the $600-$625/st FOB range.

Western Cornbelt:

The last ammonium nitrate spot offers were reported at $780-$800/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt.

Southern Plains:

The ammonium nitrate market remained at a nominal $765-$775/st FOB terminals in Oklahoma for the last reported offers.

South Central:

The latest ammonium nitrate offers at Yazoo City, Miss., were confirmed at $675/st FOB during the week, well below the $740/st FOB level reported in mid- to late-April.

Ammonium Sulfate

Ammonium Sulfate, Brazil, China, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, South Central, South Korea, Southeast, Southern Plains, U.S. Gulf, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf:

NOLA ammonium sulfate barges continued to slip, with sources citing some new import vessels hitting the market and less demand due to higher prices. Prices were called $630-$665/st FOB, with late-week price ideas closer to $630-$650/st FOB.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Granular ammonium sulfate prices reportedly fell to $690-$710/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, down $10-30/st, depending on location. The Cincinnati market was pegged at $690-$705/st FOB during the week.

Western Cornbelt:

The ammonium sulfate market slipped to $680-$700/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. Caruthersville pricing was pegged at the $690/st FOB level at midweek.

In the Northern Plains, the Sioux City ammonium sulfate market reportedly dropped to $730/st FOB, down from the last reported $755/st FOB level.

Southern Plains:

Terminal prices for ammonium sulfate were sliding at mid-month. The Houston market was reported at $550-$600/st FOB, down from $600-$625/st. Offers at Catoosa/Inola were quoted at the $680/st FOB level.

NeuAG LLC on May 6 announced a new May price for spray and industrial grade ammonium sulfate at $650/st FOB Clute, Texas, with an additional $100/st charged for bags, pallets, and shrink wrap.

South Central:

Ammonium sulfate pricing in the South Central region fell to the $680-$705/st FOB range, down from $690-$730/st, with the low confirmed at Memphis and the high out of spot river terminals in Kentucky. Other terminal prices at mid-month included $690/st FOB Little Rock and $700/st FOB Shreveport.

Southeast:

Ammonium sulfate postings from AdvanSix FOB Hopewell, Va., remained at $670/st for granular, $630/st for mid-grade, and $610/st for standard. Sources also reported some imported granular tons available at $670/st FOB Charleston and $685-$690/st FOB Lumberton, N.C., in mid-May. Pricing in the Florida market was steady at $635/st DEL for standard and $735/st DEL for granular.

China:

Rumors are circulating that while the Chinese government is reviewing the list of commodities currently under export restrictions – such as urea and DAP – they are also considering adding ammonium sulfate to the list. Sources said if amsul gets added to the restricted list, the global nitrogen market will be seriously affected.

Many buyers of amsul have been taking the product as a substitute for the much more expensive and harder to get urea. Demand out of China has been steady, with some periods of softness and some of eager demand. Demand for Chinese amsul reportedly took a step up this week following the removal of import duties on the product by the Mexican government.

Prices remain in the $320s/mt FOB, but with more discussions focusing on sub-$320/mt deals. The softness in pricing is said to be coming from limited demand by Southeast Asian buyers.

Brazil:

Limited trading has allowed the imported ammonium sulfate price to drift down to $400-$410/mt CFR. Rondonópolis has also seen a decline in pricing, to $550-$660/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

Part of the reason given for the price drop is the steady decline in urea pricing. Amsul is often used as a substitute for urea when urea prices are high. As urea prices come off, amsul becomes less attractive.

South Korea:

Ammonium sulfate exports in January-April 2022 were reported at 98,000 mt by Trade Data Monitor. This is about half of the 190,000 mt exported during the same period in 2021.April 2022 exports were reported at 17,000 mt – with Mexico taking 16,500 mt – compared to the 8,000 mt exported in April 2021.

DAP/MAP

Brazil, Central Florida, China, DAP/MAP, Eastern Cornbelt, India, Market Watch, South Central, Southeast, Southern Plains, U.S. Exports, U.S. Gulf, Western Cornbelt

Central Florida:

Central Florida DAP trucks remained posted at $945/st FOB for the week, steady from the prior report. Truck-loaded MAP was noted even with DAP at $945/st FOB, also unchanged from one week earlier.

MAP trucks originating from North Florida were reported softening to $940/st FOB, down from $950/st FOB posted previously.

U.S. Gulf:

A quiet week on the NOLA barge phosphate market resulted in DAP and MAP values rolling over from week-ago levels.

DAP barge offers were noted at $830-$855/st FOB, within the prior $820-$860/st FOB range, although with no trades reported. MAP offers were heard pressing higher, with players reporting that $890-$900/st FOB asks were met with minimal or nonexistent bids.

With minimal trading reported for the week, DAP barges continued to be called $820-$860/st FOB, unmoved from the previous report. Negligible MAP business saw prices rolling over from the prior-week $850-$895/st FOB.

U.S. Exports:

Gulf export phosphate sellers quoted current market indications in the $1,080-$1,100/mt FOB range, declining from the previous $1,240/mt FOB.

Eastern Cornbelt:

DAP pricing in the Eastern Cornbelt covered a very wide range at mid-month. Terminal offers reportedly fell to as low as $900/st FOB for DAP in southern Illinois and southern Indiana, while the Cincinnati market remained at $960-$975/st FOB. DAP pricing at Ottawa was confirmed at the $925/st FOB level at midweek.

MAP pricing ranged broadly at $915-$975/st FOB in the region, with the upper end once again confirmed at Cincinnati. The Ottawa MAP price was pegged at the $935/st FOB level.

Western Cornbelt:

DAP pricing was reported in a wide $890-$960/st FOB range in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and reflecting a significant drop from last week’s $930-$945/st FOB range. MAP was pegged at $915-$960/st FOB in the region, with the low again reported at St. Louis.

Southern Plains:

DAP prices reportedly slipped to $900-$930/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and $945/st FOB Houston, down $15-$20/st from the last confirmed levels. MAP was reported at $920-$945/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and $955/st FOB Houston at mid-month.

South Central:

DAP prices were quoted in a broad range at $915-$965/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low reported at Shreveport and the high in Arkansas. The Memphis market was pegged at $955-$960/st FOB during the week.

Southeast:

Nutrien lowered its DAP posting to $890/st FOB Aurora, N.C., with MAP referenced at $940/st FOB Aurora and White Springs, Fla., down from the last posting of $950/st FOB for DAP and MAP at both locations.

China:

Sources said the price for DAP is holding around $1,000/mt FOB. Bids are coming in lower, but there is enough demand, said traders, to allow producers to push back against any decline in pricing.

Customs officials are allowing DAP to be exported, but not in numbers previously seen. A few extra cargoes may become available as the domestic season winds down and as government officials see domestic demand wane.

India:

The high price of phos acid continues to make it more viable to import DAP rather than to produce it in domestic plants.

Sources reported some Russian DAP has made it into India at $920-$930/mt CFR. No details were provided on how the cargoes arrived or when they were booked. Traders did comment that the price represents a dramatic discount from the current going rate for DAP.The last reported business of non-Russian DAP was put at $1,030/mt CFR.

There are also reports that some cargoes from Jordan and Saudi Arabia are being booked under government-to-government deals. The prices for these deals are being kept under wraps, as is the norm.

Brazil:

The increased presence of MAP from Morocco, Russia, and China is causing prices to dip. Sources put the imported price at $1,120-$1,220/mt CFR. Rumors that more Chinese MAP might soon be available is expected to keep a downward pressure on prices.

Sources noted that OCP/Morocco had been holding to a higher price, creating an ever-widening price range. However, as more Chinese material began arriving, sources said OCP dropped its prices to remain competitive.

Rondonópolis prices also dropped. Sources put the inland market price at $1,270-$1,290/mt FOB ex-warehouse, down from the last reported upper range of $1,400/mt FOB. Sources said the drop came as Moroccan MAP began arriving at local distributors.

TSP

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

U.S. Gulf:

Sources noted softer NOLA TSP barge pricing, with players reporting values in the $800-$810/st FOB range, falling from $800-$840/st FOB in the prior report.

Eastern Cornbelt:

TSP pricing in Cincinnati was reported at the $840-$855/st FOB level at mid-month.

Western Cornbelt:

TSP pricing was reported at $850-$880/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, depending on location.

South Central:

The TSP market remained at $885-$900/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low reported in Arkansas and the high at Memphis.