DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- According to retailers tracked by DTN, fertilizer prices for the third week of March 2020 are evenly mixed. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on most everything in the world, even the fertilizer industry.

As has been the case in recent weeks, four fertilizers were lower compared to last month while the other four were higher. A new feature of the market last week, however, is the price of urea.

The nitrogen fertilizer was 6% more expensive compared to last month. The fertilizer's average price was $382/ton.

Three other fertilizers were higher in price compared to last month but none were up a considerable amount. 10-34-0 had an average price of $466/ton, anhydrous $491/ton and UAN32 $278/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers, meanwhile, had a slight price decrease compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $408/ton, MAP $433/ton, potash $370/ton and UAN28 $235/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.41/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

On Wednesday, March 18, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) stated in a press release that it sent a letter to the president and Congressional leaders requesting the federal government recognize fertilizer and all agriculture inputs as "essential services" to ensure agriculture can remain operational. A few hours later, the fertilizer industry was designated an essential industry. Another TFI news release came out applauding leaders for this move.

Then on Monday March 23, TFI released another news release urging states to use The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidance in designating fertilizer as an essential industry. Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of TFI, wrote he was requesting that the fertilizer supply chain be designated an "essential service" and "critical infrastructure" in order to ensure American agriculture could operate during spring planting.

"In order to ensure consistent approach across all 50 states and local governments, I respectfully request that you incorporate the CISA list into your state response plan and any critical shelter in place or shut down orders for your state allowing these workers, facilities and services to continue to operate and provide necessary input for the food supply chain," according to the news release.

Rosenbusch wrote the next six to eight weeks are critical to TFI's members and their farmer customers, as they will be conducting spring planting activities. The timely delivery of plant nutrients to American farmers is critical to their ability to produce food, fuel and fiber, according to the release.

The fertilizer industry relies on a safe and efficient transportation network, including rail carriers, ports, barges, pipelines and trucks to get plant nutrients to the farm. These products also move across the borders with Canada and Mexico as an important part of the fertilizer supply chain.

"While we are not aware of any prohibitions contemplated on interstate shipment of goods at this time, any such constraints could cripple the ability of our members to provide farmers with the fertilizers they need in a very limited planting window," the release said.

To read the entire TFI press release, go to https://www.tfi.org/….

Retail fertilizers are now all lower in price from a year ago. DAP is 20% lower, MAP is 19% less expensive, anhydrous is 18% lower, both UAN28 and UAN32 are 13% less expensive, urea is 5% lower, potash is 4% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 1% lower from last year at this time.

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
Mar 18-22 2019	509	533	386	401
Apr 15-19 2019	504	531	388	404
May 13-17 2019	498	526	392	426
Jun 10-14 2019	497	527	392	434
Jul 8-12, 2019	497	532	392	431
Aug 5-9 2019	495	531	395	428
Sep 2-6 2019	491	488	387	408
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019	476	474	384	404
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019	464	472	383	402
Nov 25-29 2019	456	465	381	386
Dec 23-27 2019	443	454	377	378
Jan 20-24 2020	413	435	374	357
Feb 17-21 2020	410	435	373	361
Mar 16-20 2020	408	433	370	382
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Mar 18-22 2019	470	597	270	318
Apr 15-19 2019	481	594	270	317
May 13-17 2019	487	595	267	311
Jun 10-14 2019	487	591	271	314
Jul 8-12, 2019	485	585	276	317
Aug 5-9 2019	491	580	272	320
Sep 2-6 2019	473	522	255	290
Sep 30-Oct 4, 2019	470	511	253	289
Oct 28-Nov 1 2019	468	503	251	291
Nov 25-29 2019	472	497	245	277
Dec 23-27 2019	469	488	240	276
Jan 20-24 2020	470	487	237	275
Feb 17-21 2020	464	490	235	277
Mar 16-20 2020	466	491	235	278

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(SK/CZ)

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