DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for most fertilizers were lower again the fourth week of August 2017 compared to the previous month, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to last month, though only two were down significantly. UAN32 was 7% lower compared to the previous month and had an average price of $248 per ton. UAN28 was also lower, down 6% compared to last month. UAN28 had an average price of $216/ton.

The remaining five fertilizers were just slightly lower in price compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $458/ton, potash $338/ton, urea $304/ton, 10-34-0 $419/ton and anhydrous $417/ton.

One fertilizer was unchanged in price compared to a month ago. DAP had an average price of $434 per ton, the same as the fourth week of July 2017.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.33/lb.N, anhydrous $0.25/lb.N, UAN28 $0.38/lb.N and UAN32 $0.39/lb.N.

In the Fertilizer Update on the Hefty Seed Company's Equipment and Fertilizer Gazette electronic newsletter, author Rob Fritz said fall fertilizer prices should be coming out soon for the company, and it appears prices will be lower.

"From all indicators, it looks like fertilizer will be lower and possibly much lower than last season," Fritz wrote. "We already have $0.25/lb nitrogen in the urea form we can get today, and that is much lower than last year."

These lower prices in urea should encourage other forms of nitrogen to drop in price, as well. Fritz wrote that this should put pressure on the liquid nitrogen, so large price drops could be seen with this form of nitrogen.

While there hasn't been much price movement with phosphorus (P) and potash (K), lower prices could also be on the way for these nutrients, he wrote.

"P and K pricing is flat at this time, but we do suspect that we will see lower fill prices," he wrote.

All but one retail fertilizer are lower compared to a year earlier. Three of the eight major fertilizers are double digits lower.

Anhydrous is now 19% lower from a year ago while 10-34-0 is 17% less expensive and UAN32 is 11% lower. Both urea and UAN28 are 8% less expensive, DAP is 4% lower and MAP is 2%. The one fertilizer higher compared to last year is potash, which is now 2% more expensive.

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
Aug 22-26 2016	451	468	330	330
Sept 19-23 2016	443	453	319	323
Oct 17-21 2016	436	452	313	317
Nov 14-18 2016	436	445	315	327
Dec 12-16 2016	433	443	320	333
Jan 9-13 2017	432	441	320	338
Feb 6-10 2017	431	448	330	354
Mar 03-10 2017	436	460	336	361
Apr 3-7 2017	438	466	338	354
May 1-5 2017	436	466	339	351
May 29-Jun 2 2017	436	471	340	339
Jun 26-30 2017	437	470	340	333
Jul 24-28 2017	434	462	338	308
Aug 21-25 2017	434	458	338	304
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Aug 22-26 2016	502	515	234	280
Sept 19-23 2016	470	494	225	271
Oct 17-21 2016	453	475	224	265
Nov 14-18 2016	445	466	219	256
Dec 12-16 2016	444	463	219	257
Jan 9-13 2017	437	467	222	258
Feb 6-10 2017	440	485	238	273
Mar 03-10 2017	441	503	246	279
Apr 3-7 2017	441	505	248	280
May 1-5 2017	436	508	247	280
May 29-Jun 2 2017	436	503	248	280
Jun 26-30 2017	435	484	238	268
Jul 24-28 2017	425	423	229	265
Aug 21-25 2017	419	417	216	248

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

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/BAS)

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