U.S. Gulf:

NOLA potash barge values remained in the $675-$685/st FOB range, steady from week-ago levels.

U.S. Imports:

July-October MOP imports were reported at 4.52 million st, rising 5.3 percent from the year-ago 4.29 million st. October imports were up 24.3 percent, to 1.22 million st from the prior-year 984,794.

July-October imports from Canada totaled 3.83 million st, up 0.8 percent from the year-ago 3.80 million st. A 94,248 st October showing from Belarus moved that country’s import total into second place, at 268,282 st for the July-October window, up 27.4 percent from the year-ago 210,619. Russia added 263,666 st for the period, up 5.9 percent from last year’s 249,081 st.

Eastern Cornbelt:

The potash market was quoted at $720-$730/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with Q1 rail-DEL offers reported in the same range. The Cincinnati market was pegged in the $720-$725/st FOB range at midweek.

Western Cornbelt:

Potash remained at $710-$725/st FOB and $715-$730/st rail-DEL in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported at St. Louis.

Southern Plains:

New potash postings from Intrepid FOB Carlsbad, N.M., firmed during the week 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.

California:

Potash pricing jumped to $850-$870/st FOB in California for Q1 offers, up significantly from the last reported Q4 offers at $695-$705/st FOB. The lower end of the range was reported for 60 percent MOP and the high for 62 percent.

Pacific Northwest:

Potash prices were up significantly in the Pacific Northwest, reportedly firming to $805-$825/st FOB or DEL during the week, depending on grade and location, up from $785-$795/st as the week began.

Intrepid announced higher potash prices FOB Moab and Wendover, Utah, with new levels firming to $775/st for 60 percent white standard and $780/st for 60 percent white granular, up a full $105/st from the company’s last published prices in October.

Western Canada:

Sources reported truck pricing for potash in the C$955-$975/mt range FOB Saskatchewan mines for prompt or Q1 offers, depending on grade.

Brazil:

The port-side potash price remained relatively stable at $795-$830/mt CFR. Sources said the stability came from a sense in the country that current supplies are sufficient for the short term.

There is concern, however, about how supplies will look into the second quarter of 2022. Sanctions by the U.S. against Belarus potash will take effect in May 2022. Local buyers are concerned about how that will impact availability. Of more immediate concern were reports that Lithuania will not allow Belarus potash to cross its borders to be shipped out of Klaipeda.

Rondonopolis pricing dropped a bit, to $890-$980/mt FOB ex-warehouse.

SULFUR

SULFUR

Tampa:

Fourth-quarter Tampa molten sulfur contracts were valued at $183/lt CFR. Rising values reported from international markets were expected to pressure Tampa higher in first-quarter 2022.

U.S. refinery utilization held steady for the week ending Dec. 10, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Refiners operated at 89.8 percent of capacity through the period, unchanged from the prior week, but topping last year’s 79.1 percent and the 89.7 percent five-year average.

Daily crude inputs moved lower, however, to an average 15.670 million barrels/d from the week-ago 15.785 million barrels/d, a 115,000 barrel/d decline.

U.S. Imports:

July-October sulfur imports slipped 19.4 percent year-over-year, to 1.05 million st from 1.30 million st. October imports stood at 276,260 st, off 7.9 percent from the year-ago 299,901 st.

U.S. Exports:

October sulfur exports were up 138.8 percent, to 140,776 st from 58,956 st last year. July-October volumes rose 8.8 percent, to 440,320 st from last year’s 404,592 st.

U.S. Gulf:

Updated pricing on sulfur tons selling from the U.S. Gulf firmed to $240-$250/mt FOB during the week, including a reported 10,000 mt FOB cargo priced at $250/mt FOB. Expectations for the next round of business were heard in the $260s/mt FOB.

Brazil:

Recent spot import cargoes into Brazil were reported firming to the $299-$304/mt CFR range, up from $295-$299/mt FOB in the prior report. Contracts for fourth-quarter delivery were quoted at $234/mt CFR, up from $221-$223/mt CFR in the third quarter.

Vancouver:

Improving logistics at Vancouver allowed for firming export values, sources said, with current prices climbing to $245-$252/mt FOB, up from the prior $230-$235/mt FOB range.

Alberta:

Alberta netbacks were indicated in the $68-$182/mt FOB range, an increase from the week-ago $68-$165/mt FOB.

West Coast:

Solid sulfur indications followed Vancouver higher, to $245-$252/mt FOB, up from the previous West Coast range of $230-$235/mt FOB. West Coast molten contracts were reported in the $160-$170/lt FOB range for fourth-quarter loading.

China:

Firming continued in the China spot import market for the week, players said. Updated values were reported in the $300-$305/mt CFR range, increasing from the week-ago $290-$295/mt CFR.

ADNOC:

ADNOC offers for December were heard at $265/mt FOB Ruwais, up $35/mt from $230/mt FOB in November.

Qatar:

Muntajat prills for December were called $265/mt FOB Ras Laffan. November values were reported at $226/mt FOB, a $39/mt FOB difference.

Kuwait:

December prills were posted at $267/mt FOB from Kuwait, sources said, an increase of $41/mt compared with November’s $226/mt FOB offer.

SULFURIC ACID

U.S. Gulf:

Sources continued to call recent Gulf import sulfuric acid pricing in the $240-$245/mt CFR range, unchanged from one week earlier.

U.S. Imports:

October sulfuric acid imports were off 18.3 percent, to 295,158 st from 361,398 st in the prior year. Imports fell 16.2 percent for July-October, to 1.20 million st from the year-ago 1.43 million st.

U.S. Exports:

Sulfuric acid exports for October firmed 72.9 percent, to 29,977 st from 17,336 st last year. July-October exports were up 99.0 percent, to 155,457 st from 78,137 st in the prior year.

Gulf Coast:

Gulf Coast sulacid contracts were reported at $85-$110/st DEL for 2021. Concluded 2022 annual contracts were quoted firming to $195-$230/st DEL, leaving the market at a wide $85-$230/st DEL range for the week.

Midwest:

The Midwest market mirrored the Gulf Coast at $85-$110/st DEL for 2021 and $195-$230/st DEL for 2022.

West Coast:

Annual West Coast sulfuric acid contracts reported at $100-$130/st DEL for 2021 were quoted firming to the $185-$220/st DEL range for 2022 agreements, leaving the combined 2021-2022 market in the $100-$220/st DEL range.

Brazil:

Recent Brazil import values were heard in the $260-$270/st CFR range, steady from the prior report.

SPECIALTY

AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE

Eastern Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market had reportedly firmed to $550-$600/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, with the low at Seneca, Ill., and the high for the last confirmed business at Terre Haute, Ind. The Cincinnati market was quoted firmly at the $580/st FOB level at midweek.

Western Cornbelt:

The last ammonium thiosulfate business was reported at the $600/st level FOB Waterloo, Iowa, for limited tons.

California:

New ammonium thiosulfate offers were quoted at the $440/st FOB level in California, up from $380-$387/st FOB at last report.

Pacific Northwest:

The ammonium thiosulfate market remained at $415/st FOB and $420-$440/st DEL in the region in mid-December.

Western Canada:

The latest offers for ammonium thiosulfate were pegged at the C$705/mt DEL level in Western Canada.

CALCIUM AMMONIUM NITRATE

California:

The CAN-17 market in California remained at $420/st FOB Stockton and $435/st FOB Woodland and Helm. Sources said a $30/st increase is scheduled at Stockton on Jan. 1, however, with pricing on that date firming to $450/st FOB.

Pacific Northwest:

New CAN-17 prices in the Pacific Northwest were reported at the $450/st level FOB Kennewick, up $20/st from last report.

AN-20

California:

The AN-20 market in California was quoted at $428/st DEL for December, up roughly $100/st from fall pricing levels.

Pacific Northwest:

New AN-20 prices in the Pacific Northwest were reported at the $450/st level FOB Kennewick, up $20/st from last report.

NPSZ

Cornbelt:

The NPSZ market was quoted in a broad $805-$855/st FOB range in the Cornbelt, depending on location.

Pacific Northwest:

40-Rock prices were unchanged at $910/st FOB and/or DEL in Idaho and $920/st DEL in Washington and Oregon.

SULFATE OF POTASH

U.S. Imports:

SOP imports firmed 177.7 percent for the July-October period, to 56,767 st from the prior-year 20,442 st. Imports were down 70.3 percent in October, however, to 2,954 st from 9,958 st.

U.S. Exports:

October SOP exports were noted at 3,094 st, down 72.3 percent from the year-ago 11,173 st. Exports totaled 17,259 st in July-October, falling 4.8 percent from the year-ago 18,132 st.

California:

SOP pricing remained at $825-$840/st FOB in California for limited tons. Some sources reported reduced SOP volumes on nuts and prunes this fall, citing higher input costs and uncertainty about nut prices going forward.

SOP MAGNESIA

Southern Plains:

Intrepid raised its Trio postings FOB Carlsbad, with new reference pricing reported at $445/st for standard, $480/st for granular, $505/st for premium, $520/st for OMRI standard and fine standard, and $555/st for OMRI granular. Those levels were up $75-$85/st from the company’s last postings, depending on grade.

California:

The SOP Magnesia market in California had reportedly firmed to $605/st FOB for allocated tons, up from the last reported level of $525/st FOB for fall pricing.

Pacific Northwest:

The SOP Magnesia market was reported at the $625/st FOB level in the Pacific Northwest, up $100/st from the last fall pricing offers.

POTASSIUM NITRATE

California:

The crystalline potassium nitrate market was quoted at $1,175/st FOB Stockton for bulk tons, $1,285/st FOB for bulk bags, and $1,305/st FOB for 50-pound bags. Those levels were up from November pricing at $1,070/st FOB for bulk, $1,230/st FOB for bulk bags, and $1,250/st FOB for 50-pound bags.

POTASSIUM THIOSULFATE

Eastern Cornbelt: 

Potassium thiosulfate pricing remained at $700/st FOB Terre Haute, Ind., for the last reported offers.

CROPS/WEATHER

Eastern Cornbelt:

High winds caused power outages in parts of Illinois on Dec. 15-16, with top wind speeds reported at 70 mph in some northern areas of the state and up to 40-50 mph in central Illinois. The same storm system had earlier hammered the Western Cornbelt with tornados and 100 mph wind gusts, but it weakened as it approached Wisconsin and Illinois.

Wet, windy weather was also reported across central and northern Indiana at midweek, with reports of 50 mph wind gusts in parts of northern Ohio on Dec. 16.

Western Cornbelt:

Strong storms caused widespread damage across parts of Iowa and Nebraska at midweek, prompting multiple tornado warnings and a disaster declaration from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for 43 Iowa counties. Wind speeds over 90 mph were reported in Lincoln, Neb., on Dec. 15, with multiple locations reporting gusts over 100 mph.

Strong winds also battered parts of Missouri at midweek, with reports of up to 165,000 power outages in the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas.

California:

A powerful weather system brought heavy rain and snow to California during the week, resulting in numerous flash floods and mudslides.

Rainfall totals included more than 11 inches in some areas north of San Francisco, 8.1 inches in parts of Santa Barbara County, and nearly five inches in Orange County south of Los Angeles. Snow totals ranging from 3-5 feet were reported in the Sierra Nevada, along with 60 mph wind gusts.

The heavy precipitation is desperately needed to pull the state out of critical drought conditions. As of Dec. 16, most of California remained in extreme-to-exceptional drought, with small patches of moderate-to-severe drought reported in far northwestern and southern areas of the state.

Pacific Northwest:

A strong storm brought winter weather conditions to much of the Pacific Northwest at mid-month. In Oregon, heavy rain was reported in western areas of the state, with freezing temperatures contributing to significant snowfall in the Cascades.

Midweek snowfall was also reported across Idaho, eastern Washington, and western Montana, with several inches of accumulation reported in the valleys and several feet at higher elevations in the mountains.

The prior weekend brought heavy rain and gusty winds to western Washington as well, along with significant mountain snowfall ranging from 18-24 inches at Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass and as much as 3-4 feet at Mount Rainer and Mount Baker.

Western Canada:

Extremely cold temperatures developed over much of Western Canada as the week progressed, along with potentially heavy snowfall in some areas.

In British Columbia, extreme cold warnings were in effect at midweek for the Peace River and Dease Lake regions, with lows falling to -26 C and wind chills dipping -40 C. Parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan experienced similar arctic temperatures, with highs in Edmonton, Prince Albert, and Saskatoon failing to climb above -20 C on Dec. 16.

Parts of northern Manitoba were bracing for blizzard conditions on Dec. 16, with reports of heavy snow and 60 km/h winds in Churchill and York. Snowfall was also in the forecast for British Columbia’s Cariboo, West Columbia, and Williston regions late in the week.

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. Gulf:

Forecasts called for overnight fog delays throughout the Gulf starting around Dec. 14, potentially triggering 8-12 delays on overnight movements.

Weekday Bayou Boeuf Lock navigation remained limited to between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Transit was available on a 24-hour schedule on Saturdays and Sundays.

Harvey Lock has been reported closed to traffic for emergency repairs since Dec. 6, requiring vessels to detour through Algiers Lock.

Shoaling reported at Mile 7 in the Houma Navigational Canal limited vessel drafts to 11 feet at Miles 6-10, a Coast Guard safety advisory indicated. Dredging reported at the site was projected to wrap up on Dec. 22.

Bayou Chene floodgate construction limited travel to 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. nightly. Tows were reportedly capped at 600 feet of length, while an assist vessel was required on all movements wider than 54 feet. Dive operations were projected to trigger intermittent shutdowns through the area lasting up to 6-12 hours at a stretch.

Towing restrictions continued at Miles 113-116 of the Atchafalaya River, located in the Morgan City area. Barge and vessel drafts were limited to 10 feet due to extensive shoaling, while total tow sizes were restricted to 600-foot lengths and 70-foot widths. Tows running longer than 400 feet were advised to use an assist tug. Vessels could bypass the restrictions entirely by detouring through the Port Allen Route, according to Coast Guard documents.

Ongoing length and width restrictions were reported on travel through Algiers Lock, effectively capping unassisted travel to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers per lock, although larger movements were available if accompanied by an assist vessel.

Belle Chasse Bridge construction projected to run through late 2022 was likely to trigger intermittent navigational shutdowns, with delays noted up to 12 hours at a time. The structure is located near Mile 3 in the West Canal.

Port Allen Lock continued to see lengthy delays, with Corps data showing most lockages concluding in 1-2 days. Most Industrial Lock wait times were reported at 11 hours or less, but intermittent delays spiked to 25 hours or more during the week. Vessels passing Algiers Lock saw wait times up to six hours, while Colorado Lock waits were posted up to 12.5 hours.

Mississippi River:

The conclusion of dredging activities at Mile 591 on the lower Mississippi River allowed resumed movements through Miles 591-595. Travel delays through the area were expected to persist into the week ahead. More than 70 tows were reportedly queued to pass the site on Dec. 7.

Falling water levels at St. Louis further constricted lower Mississippi River drafts to 10 feet for barges and vessels, down from 10-11.5 feet at various points along the river in the prior report. The river gauge at St. Louis returned a 0.4-foot depth reading on Dec. 15, increasing from (-)0.05-feet on Dec. 8. In addition, a Wind Advisory on Dec. 15 was in effect for the St. Louis area through 2:00 a.m. on Dec. 16.

Shoaling reported at the upper river’s Mile 171 necessitated dredging in the area. Intermittent navigation stoppages and delays were expected through approximately Dec. 21.

Locks 1-12 on the upper Mississippi River were closed for the winter navigation season on Dec. 15. Lock 15 and Lock 24 are expected to shut for seasonal maintenance on Jan. 1, 2022, with Lock 24 scheduled to reopen on Jan. 31.

Lock 15 is slated to reopen on March 3, while Locks 5 and 7 were due to return for the spring season on March 11. March 17 will see Locks 5A, 8, and 10 resume lockages, while Lock 4 is tentatively set to reopen on March 21.

Corps data showed vessels delayed by up to 14 hours at Lock 27 through the week.

Illinois River:

Diving operations that began on Dec. 7 to repair the Valley City Railroad Bridge, located at Miles 61-62 on the Illinois River, were projected to conclude on Dec. 17. The work has interrupted movements daily between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Lock operators were heard lowering wickets at Peoria Lock on Dec. 14 due to rising water levels, allowing boats through the navigational pass. Prior to the wickets’ lowering, intermittent waits through the site were noted up to 7.5 hours.

The Corps has scheduled a repair and maintenance project at Brandon Road Lock from May 9 through Sept. 8, 2022. Daytime travel will be unavailable from May 9 through Aug. 14, followed by a total shutdown from Aug. 15 through Sept. 4. Daylight-hour closures will return on Sept. 5-8, followed by the resumption of normal operation on Sept. 9. A 70-foot width limit will be in effect on all lockages while the project is underway.

Dresden Island Lock delays were quoted up to 5.5 hours for the week. Boats passing LaGrange Lock saw wait times up to 12.5 hours.

Ohio River:

The Montgomery Lock main chamber is shut through Dec. 22 for planned maintenance and repairs, forcing tows to lock one barge per turn through the secondary chamber. Delays swelled to 7-9 days in each direction during the week, increasing from 5-7 days in the prior report.

Hannibal Lock main chamber repairs reportedly ended on schedule on Dec. 10. Additional repairs proposed by the Corps would prompt navigational shutdowns between July 5 and Oct. 8, 2022. Emergency hydraulic repairs at Markland Lock concluded on Dec. 8.

The Dashields Lock auxiliary chamber remained closed to transport due to an underwater obstruction blocking the lower miter gate. Passage through the site remained possible through the main chamber.

A Cannelton Lock repair proposed by the Corps would affect primary chamber travel between July 5 and Nov. 11, 2022. Traffic is expected to run through the auxiliary chamber while work is underway.

Miter gate work kicked off in early November at the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lock concluded during the week, allowing traffic to resume through the site. Vessels were previously reported detouring through Barkley Lock and the Barkley Canal, adding 1-2 days of travel time in each direction. Minimal delays were reported on Dec. 15.

Primary chamber work at Wilson Lock scheduled for Feb. 23 through April 28, 2022, was expected to prompt detours through the secondary chamber. The main chamber is currently anticipated to open for a single time during the closure, on April 1-3.

The Cumberland River’s Barkley Lock will undergo a round of main chamber shutdowns daily between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., on Jan. 15-30, 2022. Proposed maintenance at Cheatham Lock will likely disrupt navigation between May 16 and Aug. 4, 2022.

Transit through the Allegheny River’s Lock 6 continued to be reported as unavailable due to a damaged miter gate anchorage.