DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Fertilizer Price Moves Minor, But Mixed, Compared to April

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of potash was $878/ton in the third week of May, 2022. That's twice as expensive as last year and closing in on the all-time high of $896/ton, which was set in November, 2008. (DTN Chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- For the first time in several months, retail fertilizer prices were mixed, according to prices tracked by DTN for the third week of May 2022. A few were slightly higher, a few were slightly lower and one fertilizer was unchanged in price compared to last month.

Four fertilizers' prices were higher compared to last month, but none were up a substantial amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $1,059/ton (all-time high), MAP $1,083/ton (all-time high), UAN28 $634/ton and UAN32 $731/ton (all-time high).

Three fertilizers were slightly less expensive compared to last month but nothing noteworthy. Potash had an average price of $878/ton, urea $993/ton and anhydrous $1,529/ton.

10-34-0 had an average price of $906/ton, unchanged from last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.08/lb.N, anhydrous $0.93/lb.N, UAN28 $1.13/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

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The issue of fertilizer price was briefly discussed last week during a Kansas State University Extension webinar titled "Dealing with Drought." K-State Extension specialists answered producers' questions during the roughly 75-minute-long webinar.

Gregg Ibendahl, Kansas State University Extension Agricultural Economist, was asked about his thoughts about what direction fertilizer prices could move this summer. Nutrient prices have not really backed off much so far in 2022, he said.

With quite a bit of supply coming from the unstable Black Sea region, this is one fertilizer to watch in the coming weeks and months, he said.

"I think potash could move even higher going forward," Ibendahl said.

Potash is one of a few fertilizers that has yet to reach its all-time high price, according to the DTN data set. With a current price of $878/ton, potash is closing in on the all-time high price of $896/ton, which was set in the first week of Nov. 2008.

The other fertilizer that has not gotten to an all-time high price in recent months is 10-34-0. Starter fertilizer has some work to do to reach the all-time high price of $1,250/ton from the first week of Nov. 2008.

Most fertilizers continue to be considerably higher in price than one year earlier.

10-34-0 is 46% more expensive, MAP is 53% higher, DAP is 65% more expensive, UAN28 is 75% higher, UAN32 is 80% more expensive, urea is 91% is higher, potash is 100% higher and anhydrous is 113% more expensive compared to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In a recent press release from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the organization welcomed the announcement USDA would be doubling its initial $250 million investment in domestic fertilizer production to $500 million. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
May 17-21 2021 642 708 440 521
Jun 14-18 2021 661 719 454 531
Jul 12-16 2021 693 730 501 550
Aug 9-13 2021 695 755 563 555
Sep 6-10 2021 699 757 575 558
Oct 4-8 2021 736 829 675 653
Nov 1-5 2021 814 900 750 820
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 836 918 777 873
Dec 27-31 2021 864 931 809 911
Jan 24-28 2022 877 936 814 910
Feb 21-25 2022 874 934 815 885
Mar 21-25 2022 1014 1018 850 976
Apr 18-22 2022 1050 1079 879 1012
May 16-30 2022 1059 1083 878 993
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
May 17-21 2021 620 716 361 407
Jun 14-18 2021 621 719 365 414
Jul 12-16 2021 624 725 368 418
Aug 9-13 2021 630 740 366 418
Sep 6-10 2021 631 750 371 422
Oct 4-8 2021 639 803 400 456
Nov 1-5 2021 702 1113 545 604
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 756 1313 575 661
Dec 27-31 2021 795 1428 583 679
Jan 24-28 2022 817 1492 601 699
Feb 21-25 2022 837 1488 602 703
Mar 21-25 2022 881 1523 622 698
Apr 18-12 2022 906 1534 631 730
May 16-20 2022 906 1529 634 731

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn