US Gulf:
Most saw the NOLA potash market as fairly quiet. Prices were reported edging down to $385-$395/st FOB, however, off from the week-ago $390-$410/st FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Potash warehouse prices continued to slide in the Eastern Cornbelt. The regional market was pegged at $450-$470/st FOB, down from last week’s $465-$480/st range, with Cincinnati pricing quoted at the $450-$465/st FOB level during the week.
Western Cornbelt:
The potash marked slipped to $445-$465/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, down another $5-$10/st, with the St. Louis market reported at the $445-$450/st FOB level at midweek.
Southern Plains:
Potash offers slumped to $450-$455/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and Houston, down another $10/st or more from the previous week. The last potash postings from Intrepid FOB Carlsbad, N.M, included $515/st for 60% white granular and $525/st for 62% white standard.
South Central:
Potash was pegged in a tight range at $455-$460/st FOB in the South Central region, down from the previous $460-$480/st FOB range.
Southeast:
The potash market dropped to $465-$475/st FOB in the Southeast, down from $475-$500/st at last report, with the low quoted at Wilmington and the high at Chesapeake. Rail-DEL pricing remained in the $495-$505/st range in the region.
Brazil:
Prices remained steady at both the ports and in Rondonopolis. Sources put the landed price at $500-$520/mt CFR, and the Rondonopolis price at $615-$660/mt FOB ex-warehouse.
Competitiveness among major suppliers such as Canada, Russia, and Belarus has reportedly put downward pressure on prices at a time when local sellers are claiming values should move up. There are reports that material from Belarus has been offered at $490/mt CFR, but without any confirmation. The lower price is most likely tied both to the sanctions imposed on Belarus, and the difficulties the country has in shipping its product.
Thailand:
Potash imports for 2022 totaled 736,000 mt, according to Trade Data Monitor, a25% decline from 979,000 mt reported for 2021. Canada accounted for half of the imports with 366,000 mt, while Belarus was a distant second at 81,000 mt.
December imports were reported at 24,000 mt, down from the year-ago 81,000 mt. Israel accounted for 71% of the market, with 17,000 mt.