DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first full week of 2020 show the trend of lower prices persisting into the new year.

For the second straight week, seven of the eight major fertilizers had lower prices compared to a month earlier. Only urea was down a noteworthy amount, about 6%, compared to last month and had an average price of $358 per ton, down $22/ton. DTN considers a price move of 5% or more to be significant.

Six fertilizers had slight price declines from the previous month. DAP had an average price of $435/ton, down $10/ton; MAP $444/ton, down $19/ton; potash $375/ton, down $3/ton; anhydrous $486/ton, down $3/ton; UAN28 $237/ton, down $4/ton; and UAN32 $272/ton, down $4/ton.

The remaining fertilizer, 10-34-0, had a negligible price increase compared to last month. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $471/ton, up $1/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Rabobank reported that global phosphate prices are at their lowest level in more than 10 years, according to Dow Jones on Tuesday. The report stated there has been a significant drop-off in demand and additional supplies will likely keep a lid on prices into 2020.

Lower demand was seen globally due to weather issues in the U.S. and India during last year's planting season, which caused some phosphate producers to cut production temporarily. Output, however, is expected to pick up again in 2020.

The 2020 outlook for phosphorus fertilizer was covered in detail in last month's DTN World Fertilizer Outlook series. The phosphorus fertilizer outlook can be viewed at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Retail fertilizers are mixed in price from a year ago. MAP is 17% lower, anhydrous is 15% less expensive, DAP is 14% lower, urea is 12% less expensive, UAN28 is 11% lower, UAN32 is 10% less expensive and potash is 2% less expensive from last year at this time. In addition, 10-34-0 is 2% higher compared to last year.

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.

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Jun 24-28, 2019	495	531	392	429
Jul 22-26 2019	495	531	394	430
Aug 19-23 2019	491	495	387	413
Sep 16-20 2019	480	478	384	404
Oct 14-18, 2019	465	472	382	402
Nov 11-15 2019	457	465	382	388
Dec 9-13 2019	445	463	378	380
Jan 6-10 2020	435	444	375	358
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Jun 24-28, 2019	487	584	269	318
Jul 22-26 2019	485	582	272	320
Aug 19-23 2019	475	530	257	291
Sep 16-20 2019	471	509	254	289
Oct 14-18, 2019	471	507	253	289
Nov 11-15 2019	473	496	246	284
Dec 9-13 2019	470	489	241	276
Jan 6-10 2020	471	486	237	272

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/AG)

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