U.S. Gulf: Prompt barges moved up last week, with sources calling early trades at $385/st ($12.03/unit) FOB. However, by the end of the week, most were starting to call the market $390-$400/st ($12.19-$12.50/unit) FOB, with some saying the next trade would soon be $405/st ($12.66/unit) FOB.
Eastern Cornbelt: The UAN market in the Eastern Cornbelt was pegged in a broad range at $13.45-$14.30/unit FOB regional terminals, depending on location. Sources said UAN-28 pricing out of the Cincinnati market had firmed from $375/st ($13.39/unit) to $400.40/st ($14.30/unit) FOB at mid-month.
Western Cornbelt: The UAN-32 market in the Western Cornbelt was quoted at $430-$450/st ($13.44-$14.06/unit) FOB regional warehouses, indicating another increase from last report. One Missouri source tagged the dealer market solidly at the $440/st ($13.75/unit) FOB level in his trade area last week. An Iowa contact said most of the spring fertilizer demand was winding down in his location, except for sidedress UAN applications.
Northern Plains: Sources in Minnesota and South Dakota pegged the UAN market at $375/st FOB for UAN-28 ($13.39/unit) and $430/st for UAN-32 ($13.44/unit) FOB, but tons were tight. Delivered UAN-28 was quoted at $435-$455/st ($15.54-$16.25/unit) in North Dakota, depending on location, with reports of “very little prompt ship” tons available on the market.
Northeast: UAN prices continued to firm dramatically in the region, and inventories were very tight. Sources tagged the UAN-30 market at $372-$375/st ($12.40-$12.50/unit) FOB Baltimore for new tons, up from the previous week’s $345-$350/st ($11.50-$11.67/unit) FOB range. Sources also reported UAN-32 out of Baltimore in the $400-$410/st ($12.50-$12.81/unit) FOB range as the week advanced. “Availability is extremely tight, and I expect there to be market shortages for pull in late May/early June,” said one contact.
Out of terminals in upstate New York, sources quoted the UAN-32 market at $432/st ($13.50/unit) FOB to the dealer.
Eastern Canada: UAN was in very tight supply and under allocation in Eastern Canada at mid-month. The UAN-32 market had firmed to the $455-$471/mt ($14.22-$14.72/unit) FOB range in the region, depending on location, with UAN-28 pegged in a broader range at $398-$420/mt ($14.21-$15.00/unit) FOB. New vessels were reported on the way and slated for arrival later in April.