DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for all but one fertilizer continued to edge higher the fourth week of March 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Prices for seven of the eight fertilizers were up slightly from the previous month. DAP had an average price of $470 per ton, MAP $506/ton, potash $350/ton, urea $370/ton, 10-34-0 $425/ton, anhydrous $507/ton and UAN28 $237/ton.

For the first time in a few weeks, one fertilizer was slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. The average price of UAN32 was down about 2.5% from last month at $272 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Half of the fertilizers are now higher in price compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Both potash and urea are 4% higher, DAP is 7% more expensive and MAP is 9% higher than last year.

The remaining half of fertilizers are lower in price compared to a year prior. Anhydrous is 1% less while UAN32 is 3% less and both 10-34-0 and UAN28 are 4% less looking back a year.

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.

DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
Mar 27-31 2017	438	465	338	356
Apr 24-28 2017	437	466	338	352
May 22-26 2017	436	471	340	343
Jun 19-23 2017	436	470	340	333
Jul 17-21 2017	435	464	339	309
Aug 14-18 2017	434	460	338	305
Sep 11-15 2017	431	456	336	310
Oct 9-13 2017	432	453	347	325
Nov 6-10 2017	434	459	341	338
Dec 4-8 2017	438	471	343	344
Jan 1-5 2018	452	490	345	350
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	458	492	344	355
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	461	497	346	361
Mar 26-30 2018	470	506	350	370
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Mar 27-31 2017	441	508	248	279
Apr 24-28 2017	437	509	247	280
May 22-26 2017	436	503	249	280
Jun 19-23 2017	435	497	243	273
Jul 17-21 2017	425	425	229	265
Aug 14-18 2017	419	419	216	251
Sep 11-15 2017	416	412	210	248
Oct 9-13 2017	413	397	206	253
Nov 6-10 2017	403	409	216	272
Dec 4-8 2017	404	424	215	251
Jan 1-5 2018	409	474	219	256
Jan 29-Feb 2 2018	415	491	227	261
Feb 26-Mar 2 2018	416	496	233	279
Mar 26-30 2018	425	507	237	272

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/ BAS)

Copyright 2018 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.