U.S. Gulf:
NOLA potash barges were reported in the $640-$675/st FOB range, up from the week-ago $615-$640/st FOB. Sources were talking about $680/st FOB for the next round of business.
U.S. Imports:
August MOP imports were off 2.5 percent, to 1.10 million st from 1.12 million st in the prior year. Imports were up 5.2 percent for July-August, however, to 2.27 million st from 2.16 million st.
Imports from Canada led the field for July-August at 1.88 million st, a 2.4 percent decline from the year-ago 1.93 million st. Russia added 138,289 st, a 1.9 percent increase from the prior-year 135,648 st, while material loading from Belarus was up 114.8 percent, to 140,966 st from 65,632 st during the same period last year.
Eastern Cornbelt:
The potash market had reportedly jumped to $695-$725/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up another $45-$50/st from the prior week. The high was confirmed at Ottawa from some suppliers, with the Cincinnati market pegged at $695-$710/st FOB during the week.
Western Cornbelt:
Potash pricing jumped to $700-$715/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, up from the prior week’s $650-$690/st FOB range.
Southern Plains:
Potash pricing soared to $685-$745/st FOB in the Southern Plains, up from $640-$660/st FOB the previous week, with the low confirmed at Catoosa/Inola and the high at Houston. By midweek, sources said several Catoosa/Inola suppliers had reportedly pulled offers.
Intrepid raised its potash postings at Carlsbad, N.M., in late September. New levels include $675/st FOB for 60 percent white granular and $695/st FOB for 62 percent white standard, up from the previous list prices of $620/st for 60 percent white granular and $627/st for 62 percent white standard. The company told Green Markets on Oct. 7, however, that it has pulled its most recent pricing offers for potash while it assesses the changes in the market.
South Central:
The potash market had reportedly firmed to $680-$715/st FOB in the South Central region, with the low reported at Memphis and the high at Little Rock.
Southeast:
Potash was quoted at $630/st or higher FOB Wilmington for the last offers, while new pricing FOB Fairless Hills firmed to $720/st for Q4 tons.
Brazil:
The price for MOP at Paranagua settled to $780/mt CFR this week as more shipments begin unloading their cargoes.Sources said while more tons are beginning to arrive at the ports, the supplies inland are still lacking. The price at Rondonopolis moved up to $900-$952/mt FOB ex-warehouse.
The barter rate for 1 mt of MOP out of Sorriso moved to 103 bags of corn, up from 102 bags the week before.
Imports for January through September 2021 were up 9.5 percent, according to Trade Data Monitor, to 9 million mt from 8.2 million mt during the same period last year.
Third-quarter imports for this year were up 13 percent, to 4 million mt from the 3.5 million mt imported in the third quarter of 2020.September 2021 imports jumped 35 percent, to 1.2 million mt from 897,000 mt imported in September 2020.