The changes in prices of urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, Calcium triple superphosphate and potash from July 28-August 4.
Urea
Urea prices rose sharply again amid strong import demand and tight supply.
Latin America was the most active import market, with about 100,000 tons of large granules traded at CFR $440-450/mt in Brazil and more than 60,000 tons traded at about CFR $445-455/mt in Chile and Argentina.
U.S. urea prices fell about $30/mt in the middle of the week, with September barge prices as low as FOB $375 (CFR $408)/mt in NOLA. Despite being in an out-of-season cycle, trading activity was moderate, with 45,000 tons traded by barge and 20,000 tons traded by CFR.
Middle Eastern producers sold several lots of large granular urea at FOB prices this week, with Iran selling 95,000 tons at FOB $380-385/mt, some $45-50/mt higher than last week.
By the middle of the week, trading had slowed down significantly and was expected to remain relatively thin until the results of next week's Indian procurement tender became clear.
Supply from China will play a key role as Indian tender traders make bunker adjustments ahead of India, driving Chinese prices higher again.
Ammonium sulfate
Europe's market remained stable despite tight supply, reflecting low seasonal demand.
Standard ammonium sulfate prices in Northwest Europe were at FOB $164-191/mt NWE, but only a few trades were made.
Many suppliers said that supplies of granular ammonium sulfate for September and October shipments were tight. Northwest Europe FOB prices were $257-317/mt.
China's standard ammonium sulfate prices were at $180-190/mt FOB this week, expanding from last week's latest offers and deals struck. Prices soared this week to $205-225/mt FOB due to increased domestic demand for extruded granules ammonium sulfate and tighter supplies of ammonium sulphate. MMA-grade ammonium sulphate prices rose slightly this week to FOB prices of $150-$160/mt. Higher prices in Brazil and a sharp increase in standard grade prices from China also prompted extruded pellet manufacturers to raise their offers this week.
The Philippines had prices for standard caprolactam grade ammonium sulfate from China shown at $170/mt CFR this week.
AdvanSix in the US has raised its ammonium sulfate prices again to keep pace with urea prices. Starting today, the company will offer ammonium sulfate at $300 per quintal from US terminals. Its Hopewell, Virginia, plant will increase to $295 per quintal on August 14th.
Extruded granular ammonium sulfate prices in Paraguay rose to $275/mt, up $5/mt from last week.
Brazilian granular ammonium sulfate was priced at $225-235/mt CFR and standard ammonium sulfate at $190-205/mt CFR.
Ammonium phosphate
International ammonium phosphate prices rebounded this week.
Driven by limited supply and strong demand, India's diammonium phosphate prices have risen sharply to $490-500/mt CFR, with offers reaching as high as $550/mt, higher than the $447.50/mt CFR reported on July 28 for RCF's tender on July 22nd.
Chinese diammonium phosphate prices stabilized further this week to $465-485/mt CFR. Tight supply and strong domestic demand pushed up prices. Producers' prices rose throughout the week, with some stopping offers in anticipation of higher prices. Most suppliers said they had no supplies for August and limited availability for September. And since last week, the midpoint of TMAP offers has increased by $40/mt to $700-720/mt FOB.
A major importer in Thailand has issued a tender this week for 7,000 tons of diammonium phosphate for shipment in August as domestic demand picked up due to increased rainfall.
Brazil's monoammonium phosphate prices moved higher, influenced by Russian products, up $20/mt to $490-500/mt CFR, while Argentina's diammonium phosphate/monoammonium phosphate c.i.f. prices rose to $510-530/mt CFR.
Paraguayan diammonium phosphate prices rose $10 from last week to $565/mt, while monoammonium phosphate prices held steady at $555/mt this week.
Mexican importers bought Chinese-made monoammonium phosphate at $510/mt, which is expected to arrive at the end of this month.
Demand is recovering in Northern Europe and suppliers have raised prices, pushing Benelux diammonium phosphate to $569-580/mt.
Domestic buying demand for monoammonium phosphate in South Africa remains strong. Import prices rose to $460-500/mt due to volatility in global markets.
German bulk diammonium phosphate reached €530 per ton, higher than the €500 per ton in Hamburg earlier in the week; Polish bulk diammonium phosphate was priced at €540-545 per ton FOB; British diammonium phosphate was delivered in bags at £505 per ton; a 3,000-tonne French shipment of Russian diammonium phosphate was sold at €530 per ton in northern France; and Italian bagged diammonium phosphate was priced at €550 per ton. diammonium phosphate at 550 euros per ton.
Calcium triple superphosphate
Bangladesh has awarded a tender to receive diammonium phosphate and Calcium triple superphosphate from the country's private sector to a trading company. The trading company offered a 30,000-tonne cargo of Calcium triple superphosphate at $485/mt CFR and another at $487/mt CFR. The cargo will be sourced from Egypt and Tunisia.
Egyptian producer NCIC closed its tender on August 2 and will sell 25,000 tons of Calcium triple superphosphate by the end of this month.
A Chinese trading company reported selling 44% Calcium triple superphosphate to Indonesia at around $340/mt FOB.
The UK Calcium triple superphosphate price was £405/mt.
Granular potassium chloride east of Suez stabilized to $370-390/mt CFR Southeast Asia.
Granular potassium chloride offers in Brazil rose to $355-360/mt.
The gap between Belarus and other sources has narrowed. In South Africa, trade prices are at $390/mt CIF.
A second tentative agreement was reached between the ILWU and BCMEA with the help of the CIRB to end the strike at the Port of Vancouver.
Mosaic resumed production at Colonsay in July to offset the short-term impact of reduced output associated with a summer maintenance program at the Esterhazy potash plant.
Even if the tentative agreement reached in Vancouver is ratified, it will take at least six weeks to resume normal operations.
Attention: The above price information is for commercial reference only due to the diversity of information collected, and Kelewell is not responsible for the authenticity of the data.
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