Tampa: On July 26, PotashCorp settled at $170/lt for molten delivered to Tampa for the third quarter, down $10/lt from the second quarter. Mosaic had settled the previous week at the $170/lt level for the third quarter as well. The change is posted in this week’s price index.
Refinery operating capacity continued to be very high last week, according to the Department of Energy. The operating rate was up 1 percent, from 92 percent to 93 percent. One reason for the high operating rate was that the DOE had removed some refineries from the formula which were no longer producing.
U.S. Gulf: Prices were in the $180-$185 range for prill exports.
U.S. Imports: May imports were up 12 percent, to 183,370 st from the year-ago 163,170 st. July-May imports were off 1 percent, to 2.15 million st from 2.18 million st.
Vancouver: Prices were down $15-$20/mt FOB at Vancouver for domestic purchases. Export contracts were still in the $180-$200/mt FOB range.
Benelux: The current price range was $212-$220/mt FOB.