DTN Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to be lower, according to prices tracked by DTN for the last week of June 2020. This is the fourth straight week all eight major fertilizers are lower compared to the prior month.

While retail prices were lower, none declined by a significant amount, which DTN designates as 5% or more. DAP has an average price of $406/ton, down $1; MAP $427/ton, down $4; potash $361/ton, down $3; urea $357/ton, down $16; 10-34-0 $468/ton, down less than $1; anhydrous $461/ton, down $14; UAN28 $233/ton, down $3; and UAN32 $272/ton, down $4.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Although sidedressing operations are finished for the year, Bob Spratt, manager of LeRoy Fertilizer Services located in LeRoy, Illinois, said he was busy last week getting things wrapped up before the long holiday weekend.

Spratt's home area of central Illinois has been dry so far this growing season.

"It seems like there's a wall at Interstate 55 and Interstate 72," Spratt told DTN.

The good news for those in the market for fertilizer in the coming months is the price outlook appears to be lower for the 2021 crop. Spratt believes nitrogen, phosphorus and potash will all stay fairly flat.

One thing to watch locally could be how the closing of the Illinois River affects the supply of fertilizer in the region, he said. The aging lock and dam system is closing for repairs.

DTN Cash Grain Analyst Mary Kennedy reported on this subject in her Market Matters Blog on June 15 (https://www.dtnpf.com/…). The closures are scheduled to begin on July 1 and last through Oct. 24.

Kennedy wrote no vessel traffic will be allowed through the affected locks, which means barges that normally carry agricultural commodities through those locks will be at a standstill. The repairs were scheduled during the months of July through October to avoid spring flooding and to eliminate an impact during harvest season when barge traffic is heaviest, she wrote.

Retail fertilizers are all lower in price from a year ago. Anhydrous is 21% lower, MAP is 20% less expensive, DAP is 19% lower, urea is 17% less expensive, UAN28 is 15% lower, UAN32 is 14% less expensive, potash is 8% lower and 10-34-0 is 3% less expensive 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
Jul 1-5, 2019	498	532	392	432
Jul 29-Aug 2 2019	494	530	393	428
Aug 26-30 2019	491	494	387	412
Sep 23-27, 2019	479	475	384	404
Oct 21-25, 2019	465	473	383	404
Nov 18-22 2019	456	466	381	387
Dec 16-20 2019	444	460	378	377
Jan 13-17 2020	433	444	375	357
Feb 10-14 2020	413	435	373	361
Mar 9-13 2020	407	432	370	377
Apr 6-10 2020	409	434	370	382
May 4-8 2020	413	433	370	388
Jun 1-5 2020	407	431	364	373
Jun 29-Jul 3 2020	406	427	361	357
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 1-5, 2019	482	584	276	317
Jul 29-Aug 2 2019	486	580	272	320
Aug 26-30 2019	470	528	256	290
Sep 23-27, 2019	471	511	254	289
Oct 21-25, 2019	471	507	251	291
Nov 18-22 2019	472	496	245	284
Dec 16-20 2019	469	487	239	276
Jan 13-17 2020	470	487	237	275
Feb 10-14 2020	464	490	235	277
Mar 9-13 2020	466	490	235	278
Apr 6-10 2020	468	492	235	278
May 4-8 2020	468	492	237	280
Jun 1-5 2020	468	475	236	276
Jun 29-Jul 3 2020	468	461	233	272

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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