U.S. Gulf: The NOLA UAN barge price ideas moved up last week, with most players now calling the market within the $150-$155/st ($4.68-$4.84/unit FOB) FOB range. In the meantime, others were quoting still higher at $160-$165/st ($5.00-$5.16/unit) FOB.
Sources attributed the uptick to increased urea prices and also good demand for ammonia in the Cornbelt. One source said if ammonia supplies are depleted, then buyers may come calling for UAN or urea, predicting prices may continue to move up in the New Year.
The East Coast vessel market was reported to be stable-to-slightly higher, with sources calling the most recent price indications within the $172-$178/st mt CFR range. Quotes have been reported at $180-$190/mt CFR.
Eastern Cornbelt: The UAN market was inching up, with several sources reporting that some regional suppliers were no longer offering pricing until the start of the new year due to the heavy fill run. One source said he expected the big ammonia run to boost the UAN and urea markets as well.
The UAN-28 market was reported at $162/st ($5.79/unit) FOB or higher for prepay offers, with UAN-32 prepay pegged in the $185-$195/st ($5.78-$6.09/unit) FOB range, depending on location. Those locations still offering tons for January/February were quoted at the $175-$180/st ($5.46-$5.63/unit) level for UAN-32, and roughly $152-$158/st ($5.43-$5.64/unit) FOB for UAN-28.
Western Cornbelt: The UAN-32 market was “getting stronger,” with sources quoting the Western Cornbelt terminal market at $185-$205/st ($5.78-$6.41/unit) FOB in the region, depending on location and time of delivery. That range was up $10-$15/st from mid-month pricing levels.
California: The UAN-32 market was quoted at $205-$220/st ($6.41-$6.88/unit) FOB out of port terminals in California, depending on supplier and location, with the bulk of new business reported in the $210-$215/st ($6.56-$6.72/unit) FOB range. “Everybody is trying to raise the price,” said one regional contact. No current delivered prices were reported for UAN in the state.
Pacific Northwest: UAN-32 pricing had reportedly firmed to $227-$238/st ($7.09-$7.44/unit) DEL in the Pacific Northwest, up another $12-$13/st from last report. There were reports of limited spring prepay tons being offered at the $225/st ($7.03/unit) FOB terminal level on a spot basis for April and May delivery, but sources also reported that some suppliers had already withdrawn any offers for first and/or second quarter tons at this time.
Western Canada: The low end of the UAN-28 market had firmed to $260/mt ($9.29/unit) DEL in Western Canada for prompt tons, with spring prepay reportedly being offered at $290-$305/mt ($10.36-$10.89/unit) DEL, depending on supplier.