DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Nitrogen Fertilizer Prices Lead Surge as Anhydrous Hits $940 Per Ton

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Anhydrous cost a farmer $940 per ton on average during the third week of October, a 22% increase in the past month. The nitrogen fertilizer is now 122% more expensive than last year. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to skyrocket into historical price ranges the third week of October 2021, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. All but one of the eight major fertilizers had price increases of 10% or more compared to last month.

Leading the way higher is urea, which was up 26% compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $735 per ton.

Anhydrous was up 22% compared to the prior month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $940/ton. It's the first time anhydrous crossed the $900/ton level since the fourth week of November 2008. That week, the price was $946/ton.

UAN28 is 18% more expensive looking back to last month. The fertilizer has an average price of $451/ton. UAN32 wasn't up quite as much at $492/ton, 13% more than a month ago.

Potash is up 15% compared to last month and has an average price of $716/ton.

DAP was 14% more expensive than last month with an average price of $810/ton. DAP crossed the $800/ton level for the first time since the first week of December 2008. That week, the price was $813/ton.

MAP was 10% higher and had an average price of $863/ton.

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The remaining fertilizer, 10-34-0, was 4% higher compared to last month. DTN designates a move of 5% or higher as a significant increase or decrease. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $659/ton. That's still $200/ton more than what farmers paid at this time last year.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.80/lb.N, anhydrous $0.57/lb.N, UAN28 $0.81/lb.N and UAN32 $0.77/lb.N.

Rising fertilizer prices could be affecting which crops farmers plant, not only in North America but also in South America, specifically Brazil.

Dow Jones reported last week increasing fertilizer costs appear to be affecting planting of Brazil's corn crop. The scope of this situation, however, remains unclear.

Arlan Suderman of StoneX said there are already unconfirmed reports of fertilizer shortages in Brazil.

"Those shortages may become more pronounced, though, as we move into 2022 if we remain on the same trajectory," Suderman said.

Dow Jones also reported higher fertilizer prices are affecting European plantings and may pressure the decisions of U.S. farmers if these higher nutrient prices continue.

While there are no easy answers for farmers in the current market, there are important questions to ask. DTN Staff Reporter Emily Unglesbee outlines them here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show prices for all fertilizers have increased significantly.

10-34-0 is now 45% more expensive, MAP is 81% higher, DAP is 82% more expensive, UAN32 is 97% higher, urea is 105% more expensive, UAN28 is 115% higher, potash 116% is more expensive and anhydrous is 122% higher compared to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from around 300 retailers to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index each week. In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

An Illinois farmer is putting much thought into his fertilizer plans for the 2022 growing season. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Oct 19-23 2020 446 476 332 359
Nov 16-20 2020 455 488 336 358
Dec 14-18 2020 466 522 360 361
Jan 11-15 2021 486 551 373 373
Feb 8-12 2021 588 642 398 453
Mar 8-12 2021 615 690 423 483
Apr 5-9 2021 618 699 431 504
May 3-7 2021 634 705 436 514
May 31-Jun 4 2021 652 712 443 524
Jun 28-Jul 2 2021 677 721 476 542
Jul 26-30 2021 695 753 549 554
Aug 23-27 2021 697 756 569 557
Sep 20-24 2021 709 786 625 585
Oct 18-22 2021 810 863 716 735
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Oct 19-23 2020 456 424 209 249
Nov 16-20 2020 455 422 207 249
Dec 14-18 2020 463 450 210 253
Jan 11-15 2021 469 474 210 247
Feb 8-12 2021 512 524 243 285
Mar 8-12 2021 581 625 306 344
Apr 5-9 2021 605 692 341 378
May 3-7 2021 618 712 358 398
May 31-Jun 4 2021 619 719 363 412
Jun 28-Jul 2 2021 625 730 366 421
Jul 26-30 2021 631 737 365 419
Aug 23-27 2021 632 748 370 420
Sep 20-24 2021 633 772 383 436
Oct 18-22 2021 659 940 451 492

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

Follow him on Twitter at @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn