DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Nitrogen Fertilizer Prices Close in on All-Time Highs as UAN32 Breaks Record

Katie Micik Dehlinger
By  Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor
UAN32 set a new record in the fourth week of October with an average retail price of $522 per ton, up 18% from last month. It's 108% more expensive than this time last year. (DTN chart)

MT JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- The retail fertilizer price spike continues, with seven of the eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN posting significant gains and one setting a new record. UAN32 cost an average of $522 per ton in the fourth week of October, the highest in DTN's 13 years of gathering bids.

While the nitrogen fertilizer increased 18% in price from the previous month, it wasn't the largest price jump seen in the data this week. That honor goes to anhydrous, which climbed 26% from last month to $982/ton. It's nearing prices last seen in November 2008.

Urea, at $751/ton, increased 21% in price from last month. Like other nitrogen fertilizers facing supply crunches this year, it's closing in on its historical highs. According to DTN data, urea's highest retail price was $770/ton in the week of May 21, 2012.

The average retail price of UAN28 increased 18% from last month to $458/ton. The only higher price in DTN's database is $482/ton the week of Nov. 3, 2008.

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The average retail price of potash increased 13% from the previous month to $731/ton, the highest since July 2009.

Phosphate prices also increased, with DAP up 12% at $812/ton and MAP up 9% at 873/ton.

The only fertilizer that didn't post a significant price increase, which DTN considers a change of 5% or more, was 10-34-0. Its price was 4% higher than last month at $663/ton.

All nitrogen fertilizers are now more than double in price what they were a year ago, with anhydrous up 131%, UAN28 119%, and urea and UAN32 110%. Potash is 120% higher, MAP is now 83% more expensive, DAP costs 81% more and 10-34-0 is up 46%.

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/….

Last week, this column looked at how tight fertilizer supplies would influence South America's corn and soybean plantings. You can read more on that here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Oct 26-30 2020 448 477 332 358
Nov 23-27 2020 456 495 337 359
Dec 21-25 2020 474 535 365 363
Jan 18-22 2021 493 563 379 387
Feb 15-19 2021 600 648 404 457
Mar 15-19 2021 616 693 424 496
Apr 12-16 2021 624 702 432 509
May 10-14 2021 631 702 437 515
Jun 7-11 2021 656 717 450 527
Jul 5-9 2021 690 729 491 549
Aug 2-6 2021 695 755 557 556
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021 697 756 571 557
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021 722 800 647 620
Oct 25-29 2021 812 873 731 751
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Oct 26-30 2020 456 423 209 249
Nov 23-27 2020 457 424 210 249
Dec 21-25 2020 463 461 210 250
Jan 18-22 2021 481 482 215 251
Feb 15-19 2021 522 530 245 288
Mar 15-19 2021 596 671 331 373
Apr 12-16 2021 609 700 345 387
May 10-14 2021 620 713 361 406
Jun 7-11 2021 620 718 363 414
Jul 5-9 2021 624 732 371 421
Aug 2-6 2021 631 738 367 418
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021 632 749 371 420
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021 638 782 388 444
Oct 25-29 2021 663 982 458 522

Katie Dehlinger can be reached at katie.dehlinger@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter at @KatieD_DTN

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Katie Dehlinger