DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Most Retail Fertilizer Prices Continue to Move Lower

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
Connect with Russ:
Urea had an average price of $310 per ton the second week of September 2017, up $5 from $205 the second week of August 2017. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Most retail fertilizer prices continued to move slightly lower the second week of September 2017, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were just slightly lower compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $431 per ton, MAP $456/ton, potash $336/ton, urea $310/ton, 10-34-0 $416/ton, anhydrous $412/ton, UAN28 $210/ton and UAN32 $248/ton.

The remaining fertilizer was slightly higher compared to the previous month. Urea had an average price of $310 per ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.34/lb.N, anhydrous $0.25/lb.N, UAN28 $0.38/lb.N and UAN32 $0.39/lb.N.

Dow Jones reported last week that fertilizer-manufacturer Mosaic was expecting phosphate production to take a hit after Hurricane Irma blasted Florida. The state is home to several of the mines where the nutrient is mined.

The company said damage to its facilities and supply-chain disruptions would have an effect on production volumes in the third quarter, although the extent of the issues were not known at the time. A fertilizer warehouse east of Tampa saw some damage, and the company said it is not pricing phosphate for customers in the U.S. or abroad until it has a better grasp of available product or shipping capability.

P[L1] D[0x0] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

Mosaic CEO Joc O'Rourke said the company's central Florida mines were idled in advance of the storm, but phosphate production should start again soon. The company is working on "an expedient resumption of operations."

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 17% lower from a year ago, while 10-34-0 is 12% less expensive and UAN28 is 10% lower. UAN32 is 9% less expensive, urea is 4% lower, DAP is 3% less expensive and MAP is 1% lower. The one fertilizer higher compared to last year is potash, which is now 5% 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
Sept 12-16 2016 444 458 320 324
Oct 10-14 2016 438 452 313 316
Nov 7-11 2016 429 449 314 323
Dec 5-9 2016 434 443 318 333
Jan 2-6 2017 431 442 322 339
Jan 30-Feb 3 2017 430 448 329 353
Feb 27-Mar 03 2017 436 458 335 361
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
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Sept 12-16 2016 474 496 233 272
Oct 10-14 2016 454 475 224 264
Nov 7-11 2016 447 468 217 256
Dec 5-9 2016 445 463 219 257
Jan 2-6 2017 436 465 218 255
Jan 30-Feb 3 2017 439 482 236 270
Feb 27-Mar 03 2017 440 502 246 279
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

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

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(AG/BAS)

P[] D[728x170] M[320x75] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[L2] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R1] D[300x250] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R2] D[300x250] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
DIM[1x3] LBL[article-box] SEL[] IDX[] TMPL[standalone] T[]
P[R3] D[300x250] M[0x0] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

Russ Quinn