DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly lower the second week of August 2020, although the price of DAP jumped significantly from last month, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

The average retail price of DAP increased 5% from last month, which DTN considers the threshold for significant change. It had an average price of $426 per ton, up $20/ton from last month. MAP prices also increased by $6 to an average of $434/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were lower in price compared to last month, although none fell enough to be considered significant. Potash had an average price of $353/ton, down $8; urea $355/ton, down $4; 10-34-0 $465/ton, down $3; anhydrous $447/ton, down $14; UAN28 $221/ton, down $4; and UAN32 $259/ton, down $4.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.27/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

Political unrest in Belarus could ultimately influence retail fertilizer prices, Dow Jones reported. Workers at the world's largest potash mine are joining the widespread protests about the country's election results. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko claimed 80% of the votes, but that victory is being widely disputed.

JSC Belaruskali, the potash mine, controls up to 20% of the global supply of potash, which means any disruptions could affect global potash price. Scotiabank estimates a two-week strike at Belaruskali would reduce quarterly global potash production by 3.5%, although it isn't clear if the strike has affected output yet.

However, it's unlikely to spark immediate price changes. Potash is mostly sold in long-term contracts rather that in a spot market like most other commodities. Analysts quoted in the Dow Jones article also said potash has been in an oversupplied situation for years, which should also lessen the retail price impacts.

Retail fertilizer prices continue to be considerably lower from a year ago. Anhydrous is 18% lower; UAN28 is 15% less expensive; DAP, MAP and urea are all 14% lower; UAN32 is 12% less expensive; potash is 9% lower and 10-34-0 is 2% 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
Aug 12-16 2019	493	503	387	413
Sep 9-13 2019	486	482	385	407
Oct 7-11, 2019	472	473	383	403
Nov 4-8 2019	462	471	384	396
Dec 2-6 2019	445	463	379	381
Dec 30-Jan 3 2020	438	446	376	363
Jan 27-31 2020	414	435	373	359
Feb 24-28 2020	409	434	371	366
Mar 23-27 2020	409	434	370	382
Apr 20-24 2020	410	433	370	385
May 18-22 2020	409	434	367	387
Jun 15-19 2020	405	429	363	360
Jul 13-17 2020	406	428	361	359
Aug 10-14 2020	426	434	353	355
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Aug 12-16 2019	475	543	258	295
Sep 9-13 2019	471	516	253	289
Oct 7-11, 2019	470	509	253	289
Nov 4-8 2019	473	499	249	289
Dec 2-6 2019	470	490	242	276
Dec 30-Jan 3 2020	470	487	238	273
Jan 27-31 2020	467	488	237	275
Feb 24-28 2020	466	490	235	277
Mar 23-27 2020	466	491	235	278
Apr 20-24 2020	468	492	236	279
May 18-22 2020	469	490	237	280
Jun 15-19 2020	468	464	233	273
Jul 13-17 2020	468	460	225	263
Aug 10-14 2020	465	447	221	259

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

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