U.S. Gulf: Large players were now quoting prompt barges ideas as low as $190/st FOB and still lower for all of March.
Eastern Cornbelt: The potash market was commonly quoted in the $240-$245/st FOB range out of warehouses in the Eastern Cornbelt. There were reports of imported potash tons trading at slight discounts to those numbers, but no actual sales levels were confirmed. Several sources said terminal activity was “picking up” now at the lower pricing levels.
Western Cornbelt: The potash market was quoted at $240-$245/st FOB regional warehouses in the Western Cornbelt, with reports of accelerated sales activity in some parts of the region.
California: The potash market continued to be reported at $425-$430/st FOB California warehouses, with delivered tons pegged in the $430-$440/st range, depending on grade and location.
Sulfate of potash (SOP) was steady at $682-$695/st FOB or DEL in California.
Crystalline potassium nitrate was unchanged at $950/st FOB for bulk tons and $1,020/st FOB for bags.
Pacific Northwest: The regional potash market in the Pacific Northwest was tagged at $368-$372/st rail-DEL for the most recent sales. The FOB market in the region was reported in a broad range at $330-$368/st, with the upper end reflecting older warehouse inventories and the low called the market for newly resupplied tons in early March.
Sulfate of potash (SOP) remained at $610-$627/st FOB in the Pacific Northwest.
SOP Magnesia was steady as well at $443-$463/st FOB in the region.
Western Canada: Western Canada sources quoted the potash market at $350/mt FOB Saskatchewan mines for new offers, down significantly from last report following a series of recent price adjustments. One source quoted the dealer market out of regional warehouse locations at the $390/mt FOB level last week.
Northwest Europe: Demand remains slow, with prices for granular potash reportedly unchanged at €280-
€298/mt CIF.
Jordan: Arab Potash Co. (APC) produced 2.35 million mt of potash in 2015, a 12.6 percent increase from the previous year’s output of 2.09 million mt. Potash sales in 2015 were 2 percent lower at 2.19 million mt, however, down from 2.24 million mt in 2014.
Given the current market conditions, APC expects its 2016 sales volumes and prices to be reduced from 2015, the company said in a disclosure to the Jordan Securities Commission.
Pakistan: According to Engro Fertilizers, potash demand in Pakistan in 2015 declined by 16 percent year-over-year due to poor crop economics, which shifted farmers’ attentions away from potash-based fertilizers.