US Gulf:
The NOLA potash barge market was down slightly, falling to $315-$320/st FOB for the latest trades, off from last week’s $315-$325/st FOB range.
Potash was steady at $365-$395/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location, grade, and time of shipment. The Cincinnati market remained at the $375-$380/st FOB level for prompt tons.
Western Cornbelt:
Potash pricing was quoted at $365-$390/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the St. Louis market pegged at $365-$375/st FOB.
Southern Plains:
Potash slipped to $370-$380/st FOB Catoosa/Inola and Houston for prompt offers, down some $15/st from early January. The last postings FOB Carlsbad, N.M., remaining at $445/st for 60% white granular and $453/st for 62% white standard.
South Central:
Potash slipped to $370-$385/st FOB warehouses in the South Central region, down $5/st from last report, depending on location.
Southeast:
Potash remained at $350-$370/st FOB port terminals in the Southeast, with the range’s upper level also reported for recent rail-DEL business in the Carolinas.
India:
Trade Data Monitor reported January-November potash imports at 2.7 million mt, a 16% increase from the 2.6 million mt received through the same period of 2022. Canada sent about 1 million mt, followed by Russia with 896,000 mt and 417,000 mt from Jordan.
Imports were reported at 297,000 mt for November, rising approximately 50% from 198,000 mt in November 2022.
Thailand:
2023 potash imports to Thailand totaled 710,000 mt, Trade Data Monitor reported, down slightly from the year-ago 736,000 mt. Canadian product accounted for 235,000 mt, while Laos added 134,000 mt. December imports stood at 88,000 mt, a significant increase from the 24,000 mt received in the prior December.
Brazil:
Imported potash prices continued at the week-ago $285-$300/mt CFR level. Inland deals were widely reported at a significant discount to the CFR market.
Rondonópolis prices fell $25/mt at the upper end range, to $405-$415/mt FOB ex-warehouse from the prior $440/mt FOB high. Bearish sentiment remains strong, sources reported, with spot discussions rumored as low as $395/mt FOB.
Nigeria
Russian producer Uralchem has shipped a 34,000 mt cargo of potash to Nigeria’s Onne port, according to news agency TASS. In total, the producer has shipped 134,000 mt of fertilizer to several African countries including Malawi, Kenya, and Zimbabwe in partnership with the UN’s World Food Programme.