DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Urea Leads Fertilizer Price Hikes

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Staff Reporter
Connect with Todd:
The average retail price of urea was $340 per ton the third week of October 2017, up 9% from a month ago. The price of urea is now 7% higher than it was a year ago. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Four of the eight average retail fertilizer prices were higher, three were lower and one remained unchanged in the third week of October 2017 compared to one month earlier, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Urea was up 9% compared to a month ago with an average price of $340 per ton. UAN32's average price increased by about 6% to $262/ton. The average prices for three other fertilizers were just slightly higher or unchanged. Potash and DAP were each up about 1%, at an average $348/ton and $432/ton, respectively. MAP remained unchanged at $452/ton.

The remaining average prices for three fertilizers were lower compared to last month. UAN28 saw a 3% drop in average price compared to last month, at $205/ton. Anhydrous and 10-34-0 each experienced a 1% drop compared to last month, at $397/ton and $413/ton, respectively.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.37/lb.N, anhydrous $0.24/lb.N, UAN28 $0.37/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.

Five of the eight major retail fertilizers are now lower compared to one year earlier. Only one of the five is double digits lower. Anhydrous is now 16% lower from a year ago, while 10-34-0 is 9% less expensive and UAN28 is 8% lower. UAN32 is 4% less expensive and DAP is 1% less expensive.

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

Three fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. MAP is less than 1% higher, urea is 7% higher and potash is now 11% 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
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
Sep 18-22 2017 429 452 345 312
Oct 16-20 2017 432 452 348 340
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
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
Sep 18-22 2017 416 402 211 248
Oct 16-20 2017 413 397 205 262

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @toddneeleyDTN

(AG)

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[]

Todd Neeley

Todd Neeley
Connect with Todd: