DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Average Retail Fertilizer Prices Show Some Signs of Weakening

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price for urea was lower the second week of April 2017 compared to last month at $353 per ton. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- For the first time in months, retail fertilizer prices are showing signs of weakening with just as many fertilizer prices lower as higher the second week of April 2017 compared to last month, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Of the eight major fertilizers, half continued to be higher in price, while the other half were lower. None of the eight saw significant changes in price, though.

The four that were higher were MAP, potash, 10-34-0 and UAN32. MAP had an average price of $466 per ton, potash $338/ton, 10-34-0 $441/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.

The four fertilizers with lower prices from last month were DAP, urea, anhydrous and UAN28. DAP had an average price of $437/ton, urea $353/ton, anhydrous $505/ton and UAN28 $247/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

In world fertilizer news, Dow Jones reported this week that a new potash plant worth more than $1 billion has opened in the former Soviet nation of Turkmenistan. According to a report by The Associated Press, the new plant, near Garlyk, is capable of producing 1.4 million tons of potash.

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The new potash facility will export its products to China and India among other countries. Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said the plant will help feed domestic and export demand for the fertilizer.

The potash facility was built by fellow former Soviet country Belarus, one of the leading producers of potash. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said it was the largest potash plant in the region, according to the Dow Jones story.

Turkmenistan is seeking to diversify its economy to reduce its dependence on gas. The country has the world's fourth-largest natural gas reserves.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. Three of the eight major fertilizers are still double digits lower.

10-34-0 is 21% lower from a year ago, anhydrous is 14% less expensive and UAN32 is 12% lower. DAP, urea and UAN28 are all 9% less expensive while both MAP and potash are both 8% lower compared to year earlier.

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
Apr 11-15 2016 480 504 367 388
May 9-13 2016 476 502 366 385
June 6-10 2016 470 498 359 370
July 4-8 2016 469 496 359 361
Aug 1-5 2016 459 488 346 349
Aug 29-Sept 2 2016 449 464 327 326
Sept 26-30 2016 440 458 317 322
Oct 24-28 2016 436 451 313 317
Nov 21-25 2016 436 445 316 328
Dec 19-23 2016 432 437 321 336
Jan 16-20 2017 430 443 324 346
Feb 13-17 2017 432 450 332 357
Mar 13-17 2017 443 462 337 360
Apr 10-13 2017 437 466 338 353
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 11-15 2016 560 587 273 318
May 9-13 2016 561 588 274 321
June 6-10 2016 556 569 267 310
July 4-8 2016 546 554 261 304
Aug 1-5 2016 548 552 254 307
Aug 29-Sept 2 2016 493 509 233 275
Sept 26-30 2016 465 486 223 271
Oct 24-28 2016 452 472 224 262
Nov 21-25 2016 445 465 218 256
Dec 19-23 2016 442 468 217 255
Jan 16-20 2017 437 478 235 267
Feb 13-17 2017 440 491 240 276
Mar 13-17 2017 441 507 247 280
Apr 10-13 2017 441 505 247 280

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn