DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue mixed with half of the eight major fertilizers moving higher and the rest moving lower, according to locations tracked by DTN for the fourth week of May 2019. All price moves were fairly small.

Of the four fertilizers with higher prices, potash had an average price of $392/ton, up $2; urea $430/ton, up $$17; 10-34-0 $487/ton, up fractionally; and UAN28 $270/ton, up $2.

The remaining four fertilizers were slightly lower compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $497/ton, down $1; MAP $527/ton, down $1; anhydrous $590/ton, down $5; and UAN32 $314/ton, down $1.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.47/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.49/lb.N.

Fertilizer giant CF Industries Holdings Inc. recently announced a new chief financial offer (CFO) to guide the company through a turbulent period for U.S. agriculture, according Dow Jones.

The company promoted Christopher Bohn to CFO. He is replacing Dennis Kelleher, who is retiring from the company after eight years in the role.

The continuing trade conflict between the U.S. and China is causing farmers to rethink which crops they want to grow, something which was expected to benefit the company. However, flooding has delayed the start of the planting season in the Corn Belt, reducing demand for fertilizer.

U.S. farmers were expecting to grow more acres of corn than soybeans, but only had 67% of corn acres planted as of Sunday, far below the 96% five-year average for this time of year.

CF Industries said sale volumes for the first quarter of the year were lower compared with the prior-year period because of U.S. weather, according to Dow Jones.

Bohn has worked for CF Industries for the past decade, most recently serving as senior vice president of manufacturing and distribution, where he oversaw the company's nitrogen plants and distribution facilities in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year. DAP is 3% higher, MAP is 4% more expensive, both potash and 10-34-0 are 11% higher, UAN28 is 12% more expensive, UAN32 is 14% higher, anhydrous is 17% more expensive and urea is now 18% more expensive compared to last year.

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
May 28-June 1 2018	483	504	354	364
Jun 25-29 2018	485	505	354	364
Jul 23-27 2018	486	504	356	366
Aug 20-24 2018	487	514	356	364
Sep 17-21 2018	494	520	362	384
Oct 15-19 2018	498	518	365	405
Nov 12-16 2018	500	530	368	407
Dec 10-14 2018	505	533	375	407
Jan 7-11 2019	508	533	381	407
Feb 4-8 2019	511	536	385	408
Mar 4-8 2019	510	534	386	403
Apr 1-5 2019	509	533	386	405
Apr 29-May 3 2019	498	528	390	413
May 27-31 2019	497	527	392	430
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
May 28-June 1 2018	439	504	241	276
Jun 25-29 2018	440	504	242	277
Jul 23-27 2018	442	501	243	279
Aug 20-24 2018	446	481	233	271
Sep 17-21 2018	448	494	239	278
Oct 15-19 2018	457	494	243	283
Nov 12-16 2018	457	519	245	287
Dec 10-14 2018	455	552	261	302
Jan 7-11 2019	461	573	267	304
Feb 4-8 2019	470	596	271	318
Mar 4-8 2019	470	596	270	317
Apr 1-5 2019	474	599	272	319
Apr 29-May 3 2019	487	595	268	315
May 27-31 2019	487	590	270	314

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.

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/CZ/BAS)

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