CF Industries on Jan. 27 announced another UAN-32 pricing increase, the company’s fourth price hike since the first of the year. New postings in the Cornbelt range from $225-$240/st FOB, depending on location and time of shipment, up some $15-$20/st from the previous list prices and a full $60/st higher than CF’s Jan. 5 postings. New UAN-32 prices FOB Michigan terminals range from $245-$260/st for April-June tons.

Inland and New Orleans phosphate prices have surged in early week trading, with initial reports of NOLA barges topping the $490/st FOB mark for February, with inland prices up as high as $80/st FOB over week-ago levels.

Final prices in the Indonesian tenders for prilled and granular urea late last week exceeded the reserve price of $315/mt FOB. Sources reported prilled urea sold for $321.75/mt FOB and granular for $328.70/mt FOB.

At the same time, Egyptian urea prices moved up. Helwan in Egypt sold 15,000 mt at $360/mt FOB for April shipment. Just last week the same company sold a March shipment at $350/mt FOB.

Nutrien Ltd. announced Jan. 25 that it has taken one of its ammonia facilities in Trinidad offline due to mechanical issues. It expects the outage to last for an extended period. It is looking at all options to mitigate the supply impact to customers.

AdvanSix, Parsippany, N.J., reports three initiatives with respect to ammonium sulfate, including the purchase of select assets of Commonwealth Industrial Services Inc., an ammonium sulfate packaging, warehousing and logistics services business based in Hopewell, Va. In addition, the company is targeting the production of 65 percent of its AS as granular, up 5 percent. It is also working to educate growers and retailers on how sulfur can boost soybean production.

Specialty producer Verdesian Life Sciences, Cary, N.C., reports that it has entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with funds managed by AEA Investors LP, New York City. Verdesian’s management team, including President and CEO Kenny Avery, will continue to lead the company following the close of the transaction. Paine Schwartz Partners, New York City, formed Verdesian in 2012.

Trammo DMCC, a subsidiary of Trammo Inc., and Proton Ventures BV, an engineering company in the Netherlands specializing in ammonia technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for joint cooperation on green ammonia projects. Proton Ventures would construct green ammonia production units, storage facilities and import and export terminals and subsequently supply the green ammonia produced through wind and solar energy to Trammo.

Leigh Creek Energy, which plans a 1 million mt/y urea facility in South Australia, north of Adelaide, reports that it has awarded two engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) contracts for Stage 1 commercial development of a $2.6 billion project.  Companies named were InGauge Energy and Prudential Process Consulting. Leigh Creek expects construction to begin this year with production in late 2023.

Junior miner Gensource Potash Corp., Saskatoon, on Jan. 13 announced a proposed best efforts non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $10 million, which will consist of the sale of up to 55,555,556 common shares. Net proceeds from the sale will advance engineering and construction activities at the company’s Tugaske Project and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

Fertilizer stocks outperformed on Jan. 12 after bullish USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand data for January sent the prices of corn, soy and wheat surging. Earlier, corn and soybean futures in Chicago jumped to six-year highs after the U.S. cut stockpiles, reflecting strong demand; Wheat also advanced. CF Industries rose as much as 6.6 percent, Mosaic 7 percent, Nutrien 6.7 percent and Intrepid Potash 11 percent, according to Bloomberg.

The news also had an impact on fertilizer prices, with NOLA urea and phosphates showing continued strength.