DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Fertilizer prices continue to push slightly higher, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of July 2018.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month, but none were up a significant amount. DAP had an average price of $486/ton, MAP $505/ton, urea $366/ton, 10-34-0 $442/ton, anhydrous $503/ton, UAN28 $243/ton and UAN32 $279/ton.

Potash was unchanged from the previous month with an average price of $354/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 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Fertilizer retailers are starting to release prices for fall application, and some farmers report these prices are coming in higher than they were last spring.

One Minnesota farmer told DTN his local fertilizer retailers have set prices significantly higher than last year, and many are on the fence about whether they will book any fertilizer for fall, a decision they usually make midsummer. One of his concerns is cash flow, but at the same time, he's worried a rally in the corn market could push prices even higher by spring.

"I'm in an area where I can and do usually put down most of my fertilizer in the fall," he said. "This might be the first time I don't do any."

All eight of the major fertilizers are higher compared to last year. 10-34-0 is 4% higher, both potash and UAN32 are 5% more expensive, UAN28 is 6% higher, MAP is 9% more expensive, DAP is 12% higher, anhydrous is 18% higher and urea is 19% more expensive compared to last 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
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
Apr 23-27 2018	485	504	353	367
May 21-25 2018	483	504	354	364
Jun 18-22 2018	485	505	354	364
Jul 16-20 2018	486	505	354	366
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 10-14 2017	431	451	235	268
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
Apr 23-27 2018	431	507	241	277
May 21-25 2018	439	504	241	276
Jun 18-22 2018	440	503	242	277
Jul 16-20 2018	442	503	243	279

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/CZ)

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