US Gulf:
NOLA potash barges moved up to $380-$400/st FOB from the earlier $370-$380/st FOB. Sources have reported a tight supply of barges in recent weeks, with little word on actual trades.
Eastern Cornbelt:
Potash strengthened to $475-$510/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, up from last week’s $450-$500/st range, with the Cincinnati market pegged at $490-$510/st FOB during the week. Sources quoted the Ottawa market at $485/st FOB at midweek.
Western Cornbelt:
Potash was pegged at $450-$510/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with St. Louis offers firming to $480-$510/st FOB during the week.
Southern Plains:
Potash pricing in the Southern Plains firmed to $460-$510/st FOB, up from $435-$475/st FOB the week before, with the low confirmed at Houston and the high at Catoosa/Inola. 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:
South Central potash pricing was reported in the $485-$495/st FOB range at midweek, where available, up from last week’s $445-$465/st FOB. Many terminals were out of product, however. “Potash is a ghost,” said one source at midweek. “It can’t be found.”
“It’s been a historic spring for sure,” said another contact. “Huge demand entered the market in a furious way, barge delays are unprecedented, and there are no surplus barges.”
Southeast:
Limited availability in the Southeast pushed the potash market to $470-$480/st FOB and as high as $510/st DEL, up from $430-$450/st FOB and $470-$490/st DEL at last report. Sources said no tons were available at Wilmington or Chesapeake, Va., as the week progressed.
Brazil:
Prices dropped to $380-$400/mt CFR. Sources said the surprise arrival of potash from Chile was the main motivator for the tighter prices.
The Rondonopolis price widened downward, to $530-$550/mt FOB ex-warehouse. Numerous offers in the $520s/mt FOB were reported circulating, although no deals were heard to conclude at those levels.
China:
January-March potash imports lifted 23% year-over-year, Trade Data Monitor reported, to 2.6 million mt from 2.1 million mt.
Imports for March were counted at 956,000 mt, up from 642,000 mt imported in March 2022. China’s main suppliers were Belarus, sending 282,000 mt, followed by Laos and Russia, with about 191,000 mt each.
India:
Trade Data Monitor put January-February potash imports at 265,000 mt, down 60% from the year-ago 640,000 mt.
February imports were clocked at 97,000 mt, down significantly from 325,000 mt reported for the previous February. Canada supplied 60% of the market with 58,000 mt, followed by Jordan with 37,500 mt.