DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

MAP, Potash Prices Jump as All Retail Fertilizer Prices Tick Higher

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Potash prices have turned sharply higher over the last month. The average retail price of potash increased $15/ton, or 4.5%, since the same time last month. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- The average retail price of all eight fertilizers tracked by DTN moved higher this week, according to prices tracked by DTN for the second week of December 2020.

This is the first week that all eight of the major fertilizers tracked by DTN have moved higher in many months, although some fertilizers' prices have been on the rise for weeks.

While all eight were higher in price compared to the previous month, only one was up a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more. MAP was up 5% from last month with an average price of $510/ton.

MAP was over the $500/ton level for the first time since the second week of August 2019. That week MAP had an average price of $503/ton.

Potash prices increased by about 4.5%, or $15/ton from last month, to $348/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were just slightly higher in price compared to prior month. DAP had an average price of $456/ton, up $2; urea $361/ton, up $3; 10-34-0 $464/ton, up $9; anhydrous $429/ton, up $7; UAN28 $210/ton, up $2; and UAN32 $252/ton, up $4.

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On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.26/lb.N, UAN28 $0.37/lb.N and UAN32 $0.39/lb.N.

The end of the year is when many farmers will buy inputs for year-end tax planning purposes. Fertilizer for the next growing season is among the items many farmers buy.

Jeremy Flikkema, a farmer from Lanark, Illinois, told DTN he recently bought UAN32 for next growing season before the prices started to climb. Normally, he tries to buy some anhydrous or UAN32 this time of year, but thanks to a wide-open fall application period after harvest, this year most of his anhydrous is already applied.

"We applied more anhydrous than normal," Flikkema told DTN. "Our area is 80% done, I would say."

Flikkema said he is glad he got most of his anhydrous applied this fall. The recent increase in retail fertilizer prices has added about $90/ton to the price in area of northern Illinois, he said.

The spike in retail prices has also affected his phosphorous (p) and potash (k) application plan for the spring. He did apply more than he had planned this fall, thanks to higher corn prices and to cover some applications they've skipped in recent years.

"We planned on doing some more p and k this coming spring on top of some we did this fall, but the price has increased $150/ton," he said. "So we may temper our spreading for this spring."

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be mostly lower in price from a year ago but there are a couple exceptions. DAP is 2% higher while MAP is 10% higher compared to last year.

10-34-0 is 1% less expensive, urea is 5% lower, potash is 8% less expensive, UAN32 is 9% lower, anhydrous is 12% less expensive and UAN28 is 13% lower from last year at this time.

DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.

DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.

Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Dec 9-13 2019 445 463 378 380
Jan 6-10 2020 435 444 375 358
Feb 3-7 2020 413 435 373 361
Mar 2-6 2020 409 432 369 369
Mar 30-Apr 3 2020 408 432 370 383
Apr 27-May 1 2020 413 433 370 386
May 25-29 2020 410 434 365 377
Jun 22-26 2020 404 429 363 359
Jul 20-24, 2020 407 428 360 358
Aug 17-21 2020 427 434 353 356
Sep 14-18 2020 434 448 344 360
Oct 12-16 2020 445 475 332 359
Nov 9-13 2020 454 486 333 358
Dec 7-11 2020 456 510 348 361
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Dec 9-13 2019 470 489 241 276
Jan 6-10 2020 471 486 237 272
Feb 3-7 2020 464 490 235 277
Mar 2-6 2020 466 490 235 277
Mar 30-Apr 3 2020 467 492 235 278
Apr 27-May 1 2020 468 492 237 279
May 25-29 2020 468 478 236 279
Jun 22-26 2020 468 463 233 273
Jul 20-24, 2020 466 460 225 263
Aug 17-21 2020 465 445 220 259
Sep 14-18 2020 455 431 219 253
Oct 12-16 2020 457 424 209 249
Nov 9-13 2020 455 422 208 248
Dec 7-11 2020 464 429 210 252

Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com

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Russ Quinn