U.S. Gulf: Barge prices were slipping last week, with sources calling the market $495-$505/st FOB. Others thought even lower.
The fourth-quarter lull was apparent in December imports, which were off 32 percent to 715,120 st from the year-ago 1.05 million st. July-December imports were off 12 percent, to 4.63 million st from the year-ago 5.27 million st.
Eastern Cornbelt: Illinois sources quoted the potash market in the $535-$545/st FOB range on the low end last week. The upper end of the regional potash market was tagged at the $560/st FOB mark for granular tons.
Western Cornbelt: The potash market remained at $540-$560/st FOB regional warehouses, depending on grade and location. An Iowa source pegged the red granular potash market commonly at the $550/st FOB level last week.
Northern Plains: Potash was quoted in a broad range at $530-$560/st FOB Northern Plains warehouses, with the low reported out of the Twin Cities market. Delivered potash in North Dakota was tagged at the $560/st level last week.
Potash pricing FOB Saskatchewan mines for U.S. customers remained at $530-$540/st FOB, depending on grade and supplier.
Great Lakes: Potash was down from last report in the Great Lakes region. Sources quoted the dealer market at $540-$555/st FOB regional warehouses for red granular tons. White granular potash, however, remained as high as $577/st FOB on a spot basis out of Michigan warehouses.
Northeast: Potash remained at $560-$575/st FOB and $570-$590/st rail-DEL in the region, depending on grade and location. The Philadelphia market was quoted at the $565/st FOB level last week, while potash out of Hagerstown, Penn., was tagged at the $560/st FOB mark.