All posts by mickeybarb@charter.net

Ammonium Sulfate

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

U.S. Gulf:

The last done NOLA business was called $540-$585/st FOB, up from $525-$550/st FOB. Sources said domestic producers are now firmly at the higher end of the range.

U.S. Imports:

Ammonium sulfate imports for July-November were down 7.1 percent, to 344,147 st from 370,581 st during the same period last year. November imports firmed 65.0 percent, however, to 65,386 st from last year’s 39,638 st.

Canada held the top spot through the July-November import period with 189,600 st, a 1.4 percent increase from the prior-year 187,000 st. Tons originating from Belgium totaled 91,660 st, up 66.1 percent from 55,190 st in 2020. Russia finished third, logging 23,745 st through November, down 61.6 percent from 61,790 st last year.

Sizable import declines from Russia, the Netherlands, and South Korea in 2021 contributed to the market’s lackluster import total for the July-November period.

U.S. Exports:

Ammonium sulfate exported from the U.S. in November softened by 44.9 percent, to 27,968 st from the prior-year 50,715 st. Exports totaled 255,346 st for July-November, off 4.5 percent from the year-ago 267,298 st.

Eastern Cornbelt:

Granular ammonium sulfate prices continued to firm in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the regional market quoted in a broad range at $575-$630/st FOB, depending on location. Sources pegged the Cincinnati market at $610/st FOB, with Jan. 6 postings from AdvanSix falling in the $615-$620/st range FOB river warehouses.

Western Cornbelt:

Ammonium sulfate pricing was pegged at $575-$620/st FOB the Western Cornbelt, with the high reflecting new river terminal postings from AdvanSix on Jan. 6. In the Northern Plains, sources quoted offers as high as $635/st FOB Sioux City, Iowa.

Southern Plains:

The granular ammonium sulfate market had reportedly firmed to $585/st FOB Catoosa/Inola, with Houston pricing pegged in a broad range at $580-$600/st FOB, depending on supplier. Those levels were up from mid-December pricing in the $500-$560/st FOB range.

South Central:

The ammonium sulfate market firmed to $580-$600/st FOB in the South Central region, up $40-$50/st from mid-December, with the low reported at Memphis and the high in Arkansas and Kentucky. NOLA barge prices were reported at $540-$585/st FOB, up from $525-$550/st FOB the week before.

Southeast:

AdvanSix on Jan. 6 announced a $30/st increase for ammonium sulfate, with new prices FOB Hopewell, Va., firming to $550/st for granular, $520/st for mid-grade, and $500/st for standard. Delivered pricing in Florida was pegged at $565/st for standard and $615/st for granular.

China:

Sources reported softer prices as ammonium sulfate continues to flow out of the country. The price is now pegged at $340-$350/mt FOB. Reportedly, when Indonesia scrapped its amsul tender, the tons that were slated for that deal were released to the market in Southeast Asia, pushing down prices.

Brazil:

Prices were under pressure at the ports. Sources said the range tightened to $450-$490/mt CFR.Inland prices, however, remained constant at Rondonopolis at $670/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

Ammonium sulfate imports for 2021 were up 19.6 percent from 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor. Brazil imported 3.5 million mt in 2021 against 2.7 million mt in 2020. China was the major supplier with 2.9 million mt, representing 81 percent of the Brazilian amsul import market.

December 2021 imports of 312,000 mt represented a drop of 34 percent from December 2020 imports of 473,000 mt.

DAP/MAP

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

Central Florida:

Truck-loaded DAP remained posted at $785/st FOB from Central Florida, steady from the prior report. MAP trucks were also quoted at $785/st FOB, unmoved from one week earlier. North Florida MAP trucks were posted at $780/st FOB, sources said, steady from week-ago levels.

U.S. Gulf:

DAP barges loading from NOLA were noted softening amid another quiet week of trading, with sources describing “nominal” concluded sales volumes.

Trading of imported DAP loading in first-half February was noted sinking to a $710/st FOB low, falling from the week-ago $725/st FOB floor. Most put the top of the market around $715/st FOB, $20/st shy of the prior $735/st FOB top. Domestically produced tons continued to be posted at $745/st FOB.

Price ideas on MAP barges were noted holding steady, with most players calling the market flat at week-ago levels. Domestic postings were steady at $765/st FOB.

Nearby NOLA DAP barge pricing was reported at $710-$715/st FOB, softening from the prior week’s $725-$735/st FOB. MAP barges loading from NOLA were called even with the week-ago $750-$755/st FOB range.

U.S. Imports:

DAP imports for November were off 48.0 percent, to 79,068 st from the prior-year 151,938 st. Imports totaled 668,806 st in the July-November period, however, up 46.8 percent year-over-year from 455,698 st.

Australia led DAP imports with approximately 252,000 st in the July-November window, a 65.7 percent rise from the year-ago 152,100 st. Saudi Arabia followed with 129,740 st, a 15.9 percent decline from last year’s 154,300 st total. Tons originating from Jordan stood at 103,630 st, up 198.3 percent from 34,737 st in the prior year.

Imports of MAP/Other phosphates were up 28.7 percent in November, to 171,674 st from the prior-year 133,400 st. July-November totals firmed 40.6 percent, to 475,435 st from the year-ago 338,182 st.

Saudi Arabia topped July-November importers with 97,230 st, firming 55.9 percent from the year-ago 62,360 st, followed by 94,460 st from Jordan and 81,730 st from Tunisia. Jordan and Tunisia combined to send zero tons of MAP/Other to the U.S. through the same period one year earlier.

U.S. Exports:

DAP exports moved 167.2 percent higher in November, to 114,607 st from the prior-year 42,889 st. July-November exports pushed down 21.9 percent, to 277,402 st from the previous 355,300 st.

MAP/Other exports were up 10.9 percent in November, to 117,020 st from the year-ago 105,565 st. July-November exports softened 5.7 percent, however, to 836,816 st from the year-ago 886,996 st.

Nothing new was reported on the U.S. Gulf spot export phosphate markets for the week, leaving last-reported at $810/mt FOB.

Eastern Cornbelt:

DAP pricing reportedly slipped to $765-$775/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, down $10/st from the previous week. MAP was lower as well, with the regional market pegged at $785-$800/st FOB, down $10-$15/st from last report. The Cincinnati MAP market was quoted in the $785-$795/st FOB range at midweek.

Western Cornbelt:

The DAP market slipped to $760-$775/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low confirmed at St. Louis and reflecting a $5/st drop from last report. MAP pricing was unchanged at $795-$805/st FOB in the region, depending on location, with the low again confirmed at St. Louis and the high in Iowa on a spot basis.

Southern Plains:

DAP pricing was down slightly at $760-$770/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and $755/st FOB Houston, while the MAP market had reportedly slipped to $790/st FOB Houston and $795-$800/st FOB Catoosa/Inola. Those levels reflected decreases of $5-$15/st from the previous week and $25-$30/st since mid-December.

South Central:

DAP pricing reportedly slipped to $770-$775/st FOB terminals in the South Central region, down $5/st from the previous week and $10-$25/st below mid-December levels.

Southeast:

MAP remained at $780/st FOB Aurora, N.C., with reports of limited quantities of DAP also at the $780/st FOB level at Aurora in early January. Rail-DEL DAP tons were pegged at the $800/st level in North Carolina.

Saudi Arabia:

Saudi Arabia phosphate prices were unchanged in the $865-$900/mt FOB range.

China:

Sources said some cargoes of DAP are being allowed to ship. These cargoes, however, are ones contracted before the October ban on exports took effect. Reportedly, the Chinese government is allowing the exports to take place on a case-by-case basis, and only for tons that were booked before the restrictions were put in place.

Sources said two cargoes of DAP will be shipped to India from an older, existing contract and at a price reflective of a much earlier time. The netback on the two cargoes was calculated at $840-$855/mt FOB. However, if the rest of the Indian business in the $920s/mt CFR is considered, the netback would be closer to $885-$890/mt FOB.

Part of the Chinese government’s argument for limiting exports was that it wanted to build up reserves to keep prices cheaper for the domestic market. The government wanted to shield domestic buyers from the upward pressure taking place in the global market.

India:

Sources said Indian buyers picked up about 450,000 mt of DAP in the past fortnight. Reportedly, one cargo will come from Australia at $915/mt CFR, with two and possibly three cargoes coming from OCP/Morocco at $920/mt CFR.

A Russian cargo was pegged at $925/mt CFR. At least one more cargo from Saudi Arabia is also said to have been procured. Two cargoes from China under older contracts were also allowed to be shipped out at $870-$890/mt CFR.

The move confirmed for traders that India not only needs the DAP, but is also willing to pay more for it. Earlier this month a deal was closed at $910/mt CFR. Higher prices are expected when more purchases are concluded later this month.

Brazil:

The price of MAP edged upward to $860-$890/mt CFR at the ports. Sources said the increase is the result of a pickup in demand for the coming season.The Rondonopolis price also showed upward movement to $980-$1,055/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

Imports for 2021 were up 7 percent from 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor. Imports were reported at 5.1 million mt in 2021 against 4.8 million mt in 2020. The main suppliers in 2021 were Morocco with 1.9 million mt, accounting for 38 percent of MAP imports, and Russia with 1.6 million mt for 31 percent of the Brazilian import market.

Imports of MAP from the U.S. fell 60 percent, from 466,000 mt in 2020 to 187,000 mt in 2021. The U.S. share of the Brazilian MAP import market dropped to 9.8 percent.

December 2021 imports of 423,000 mt represented a 61.8 percent jump from the December 2020 import total of 261,000 mt.

Phosphate Rock

Asia, Market Watch, Phosphate Rock, U.S. Imports

U.S. Imports:

November phosphate rock imports totaled 109,963 st, off 39.3 percent from the year-ago 181,082 st. July-November import volumes were reported at 1.16 million st, however, a 17.0 percent decrease on the year-ago 1.40 million st.

Kazakhstan:

EuroChem Group AG’s phosphate rock mining operations have not been affected by the violent protests that rocked parts of the country in recent days, a spokesperson for the company said on Jan. 12.

The Russian fertilizer group has operated a phosphate rock mining operation at the Kok-Jon phosphate deposit in the Karatau phosphate basin, in Kazakhstan’s Jhambyl region, since 2014 (GM July 21, 2014).

As Green Markets went to press, the situation in Kazakhstan was reported to be stabilizing, so much so that the Collective Security Treaty Organization peacekeepers – including Russia, which had been deployed to the country as the request of the Kazakhstan authorities – were making their preparations to leave.

Phosphoric Acid

Eastern Cornbelt, India, Market Watch, Phosphoric Acid, Southern Plains, U.S. Exports, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Exports:

November wet-process phosphoric acid exports moved 590.0 percent higher year-over-year, to 40,539 st from 5,875 st. July-November export volumes rose 38.5 percent, to 134,687 st from 97,271 st one year earlier.

Eastern Cornbelt:

January pricing for phos acid was quoted at $16.20/unit rail-DEL in Illinois and $16.35/unit rail-DEL in Ohio, up $0.05/unit from December.

Western Cornbelt:

Phos acid prices were quoted at $16.10/unit in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri for January tons.

Southern Plains:

January pricing for phos acid was up $0.05/unit from December, with new postings reported at $16.10/unit rail-DEL in Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming; $16.20/unit rail-DEL in Oklahoma, and Texas; and $16.35/unit rail-DEL in Louisiana.

India:

India phosphoric acid contracts for fourth-quarter delivery were noted at $1,330/mt CFR, an increase of $170/mt from $1,160/mt CFR in the prior period.

Ammonium Polyphosphate

Ammonium Polyphosphate, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Southern Plains, Western Cornbelt

Eastern Cornbelt:

Sources reported no current pricing for 10-34-0 in the Eastern Cornbelt.

Western Cornbelt:

The last 10-34-0 offers were reported at $810-$825/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the high reflecting prepay pricing in the Iowa market. Sources reported rumors of new pricing as high as $900/st FOB in North Dakota, but that level was not confirmed.

Southern Plains:

The 10-34-0 market was pegged at $790-$795/st FOB for spring tons in the Southern Plains. The 11-37-0 market in Texas was quoted at a firm $840-$850/st FOB in early January.

Muriate of Potash

Brazil, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Potash Muriate, South Central, Southeast, Southern Plains, U.S. Gulf, U.S. Imports, Western Cornbelt

U.S. Gulf:

The potash barge market continued to be called $670-$680/st FOB, though inland prices were reported to be softening a bit.

U.S. Imports:

November MOP imports were noted at 1.31 million st, rising 50.0 percent from 873,490 st in the prior year. July-November totals stood at 5.83 million st, up 12.0 percent from the year-ago 5.21 million st.

July-November imports from Canada totaled 4.93 million st, up 9.3 percent from the year-ago 4.51 million st. Belarus added 413,800 st through the period, a 21.3 percent increase compared to the year-ago 341,100 st. Russia’s 304,500 st was down 3.4 percent from last year’s 315,100 st for the same period.

Eastern Cornbelt:

The potash market was reported at $700-$725/st FOB, down $5-$15/st, depending on location.

Western Cornbelt:

Potash pricing slipped slightly to $700-$720/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis and the high in Iowa. Sources pegged the St. Paul, Minn., market at $710-$720/st FOB during the week.

Southern Plains:

Potash pricing was pegged at $710/st FOB Houston and $715/st FOB Catoosa/Inola, down from $730-$745/st FOB in mid-December. New potash postings from Intrepid FOB Carlsbad, N.M., firmed in mid-December to $780/st FOB for 60 percent white granular and $800/st FOB for 62 percent white standard, up $105/st from the company’s last reference prices.

South Central:

The potash market was quoted at $710-$725/st FOB regional terminals, down $15-$20/st from mid-December, depending on location, with the low confirmed at Memphis.

Southeast:

Potash pricing was quoted at $730/st FOB Wilmington for Q1 tons, down $20/st from last report, with reports of rail-DEL offers in the $738-$750/st range in the Southeast from Canadian suppliers.

Brazil:

MOP prices in Brazil softened as stockpiles began to build, even as buyers expressed concern over the potential loss of Belarus material later in the year.

Sources reported the portside price at $760-$800/mt CFR, down $10-$20/mt from just a week ago. The softness continued on to Rondonopolis, where sources reported the price at $875-$930/mt FOB ex-warehouse. The inland price showed a drop of $20-$45/mt.

Concern began to grow following Yara’s announcement that it was winding down its potash contracts with Belarus. Right after that, the Lithuanian government announced it was voiding the contract that allowed Belarus potash to transit the country to an export port.The actions are the result of U.S. sanctions that will take effect on April 1.

Imports of MOP in 2021 were up 13.7 percent compared to 2020, according to Trade Data Monitor. The 2021 imports were reported at 12.8 million mt against 11 million mt in 2020.The main suppliers in 2021 were Canada at 4.2 million mt, for 33 percent of the Brazilian MOP import market; Russia at 3.6 million mt, for 28 percent of the market; and Belarus at 2.4 million mt, accounting for 18.7 percent of the MOP import market.

December 2021 imports were up 5.5 percent, to 952,000 mt from December 2020 imports of 902,000 mt.

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:

Tampa molten sulfur contracts were reported at $282/lt CFR for the first quarter, a $99/lt increase from $183/lt CFR in Q4 2021. The market’s second largest sulfur buyer reported settling molten contracts with suppliers at $282/lt CFR during the week, matching levels set by Tampa’s largest consumer in the prior report.

U.S. refinery utilization moved lower for the period ending Jan. 7, according to the Energy Information Administration. Refineries ran at a combined 88.4 percent of capacity for the week, down 1.4 percentage points from 89.8 percent in the prior period. The current rate led the year-ago 82.0 percent, while trailing the 90.8 percent five-year average.

Daily crude inputs also fell, slipping to an average 15.573 million barrels/d, down 294,000 barrels/d from the prior week’s 15.867 million barrels/d.

U.S. Imports:

July-November sulfur imports were noted at 1.42 million st, falling 10.5 percent from the year-ago 1.58 million st. November imports were up 33.3 percent, to 365,285 st from the prior-year 274,044 st.

U.S. Exports:

Sulfur exports for November firmed 139.4 percent, to 179,717 st from last year’s 75,079 st. July-November shipments moved 29.3 percent higher, to about 620,037 st from 479,671 st in the prior year.

U.S. Gulf:

The 280,000 barrel/d Pipestill 3A crude distillation unit (CDU) at Marathon’s 593,000 barrel/d Galveston Bay, Texas, refinery was successfully restarted on Jan. 10, Genscape reported. The unit was reported shutting down on Jan. 4 due to a fire. A 145,000 barrel/d fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC) taken offline on Jan. 8 remained shut on Jan. 11.

Motiva’s Port Arthur, Texas, refinery suffered a shutdown of the 85,000 barrel/d VPS-2 CDU on Jan. 10. Other units monitored at the facility remained online, Genscape reported.

Recent sulfur pricing out of the U.S. Gulf continued to be noted in a $250-$255/mt FOB range, steady from the prior report.

Brazil:

Brazil spot pricing continued in the $327-$340/st FOB range for the week, with most reported activity landing toward the lower end of the spread.

With international spot values firming to historic levels in recent weeks, buyers in Brazil were reportedly refraining from entering into first-quarter supply contracts, opting instead to rely on the spot market in meeting immediate needs. Fourth-quarter 2021 agreements were quoted at $234/mt CFR.

Vancouver:

Sources called the Vancouver export market steady at $255-$260/mt FOB. An improving logistics landscape was projected to favor rising prices in the next round of business.

Alberta:

Alberta netbacks continued to be indicated in the $167-$190/mt FOB range, unchanged from the prior report.

West Coast:

Activity increases were observed from multiple units at the HollyFrontier Puget Sound, Wash., refinery starting on Jan. 9, Genscape reported. Among the units showing renewed activity were a 149,000 barrel/d CDU; a sulfur recovery unit; a 66,000 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU); a 58,000 barrel/d FCC; and a 50,000 barrel/d hydrotreater. All units at the facility were reported shutting on Dec. 26 due to extreme winter weather in the region.

West Coast prills were indicated on par with Vancouver at $255-$260/mt FOB.

Sources quoted molten sulfur contracts in the $230-$245/lt FOB range for first-quarter delivery, increasing from $160-$170/lt FOB in the prior period.

China:

China spot import pricing continued to hold in the $315-$320/mt CFR range for the week, sources said.

ADNOC:

ADNOC solid sulfur was posted at $300/mt FOB Ruwais for January loading, up $35/mt from $265/mt FOB in December.

Qatar:

January Muntajat offers stood at $301/mt FOB Ras Laffan, sources said. December tons were offered at $265/mt FOB, a $36/mt FOB difference.

Kuwait:

Cargoes loading from Kuwait were heard at $300/mt FOB, a $33/mt increase from $267/mt FOB in December.

Sulfuric Acid

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

U.S. Gulf:

Price ideas for sulfuric acid delivered to the U.S. Gulf continued to be heard in the $240-$245/mt CFR range, unmoved from the prior report.

U.S. Imports:

July-November sulfuric acid imports were off 14.1 percent year-over-year, to 1.52 million st from 1.77 million st. November imports stood at 324,317 st, off 1.8 percent from the year-ago 330,406 st.

U.S. Exports:

November sulfuric acid exports were noted at 12,942 st, down 11.0 percent from the year-ago 14,546 st. Offshore sales were counted at 168,399 st in July-November, however, rising 81.7 percent from the year-ago 92,683 st.

Gulf Coast:

Gulf Coast sulfuric acid contracts for 2022 were quoted in the $195-$230/st DEL range.

Midwest:

Sources reported 2022 Midwest contracts even with the Gulf Coast at $195-$230/st DEL.

West Coast:

Sulacid delivered to the West Coast was contracted in the $185-$220/st DEL range for 2022, firming from the prior-year $100-$130/st DEL.

Brazil:

The recent Brazil import market continued to be heard in the $270-$275/mt CFR range.

Ammonium Thiosulfate

Amthio, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, South Central, Southern Plains, Specialty, Western Cornbelt

Eastern Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market remained at $585-$610/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low at Cincinnati and the high inland. The market FOB Seneca was pegged firmly at the $600/st level at midweek.

Western Cornbelt:

The last confirmed ammonium thiosulfate business remained at the $600/st FOB level in the Iowa market.

Southern Plains:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was quoted at a solid $500/st FOB Houston, up from $375/st FOB at last report.

South Central:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was pegged at $535-$540/st FOB Memphis, up a full $100/st from the last reported offers in December.