DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Anhydrous Price Hits $700 Per Ton for First Time Since 2015

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of anhydrous increased 4% compared to last month to $700 per ton. It's the highest price since the fifth week of June 2015. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- The upward momentum in fertilizer prices appeared to level off this week. The average retail price of all eight major fertilizers increased; however, none were up a significant amount, which DTN considers a price move of 5% or more.

This is the first week since the beginning of February that no fertilizer's price was up by double-digit percentage points.

For the second week of April 2021, the average retail prices of anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32 increased by 4%. Anhydrous had an average price of $700/ton, UAN28 $345/ton and UAN32 $387/ton.

One interesting note was the anhydrous price at $700/ton. The last time it was this high was the fifth week of June 2015. The price that week was $705/ton.

Urea prices increased 3% to $509/ton, while 10-34-0 increased 2% to an average price of $609/ton.

DAP had an average price of $624/ton, MAP $702/ton and potash $432/ton. All represented a 1% increase.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.60/lb.N.

The higher cost of retail fertilizer is making other forms of nutrients more attractive. In an article titled "Fertilizer Costs Make Manure Look Better," Ohio State University Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Assistant Matthew Nussbaum wrote farmers should consider manure as another choice for nutrients for crops.

Nussbaum said if farmers do choose manure for a fertilizer source, there are certain practices they should utilize. These would include proper storage methods and incorporating applied manure within 24 hours of application when possible.

"A study by the University of Minnesota showed that 40% of manure nitrogen is lost after sitting on the field surface for more than four days," Nussbaum wrote. "Other studies have shown that simply disking over surface applications is enough incorporation to reduce nitrogen loss."

Nussbaum said having a manure analysis done is another important practice. Manure nutrient levels vary widely among livestock species, time of year and management practices, he said.

To read the entire article, click on the following link: https://wayne.osu.edu/….

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago.

Potash is now 17% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 30% higher, urea is 33% more expensive, UAN32 39% higher, anhydrous is 42% more expensive, UAN28 is 46% higher, DAP is 52% more expensive and MAP 62% is 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
Apr 13-17 2020 410 433 370 384
May 11-15 2020 413 433 370 388
Jun 8-12 2020 406 430 363 367
Jul 6-10 2020 405 427 360 360
Aug 3-7 2020 416 430 357 354
Aug 31-Sep 4 2020 431 442 348 361
Sep 28-Oct 2 2020 439 459 338 362
Oct 26-30 2020 448 477 332 358
Nov 23-27 2020 456 495 337 359
Dec 21-25 2020 474 535 365 363
Jan 18-22 2021 493 563 379 387
Feb 15-19 2021 600 648 404 457
Mar 15-19 2021 616 693 424 496
Apr 12-16 2021 624 702 432 509
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 13-17 2020 468 492 236 279
May 11-15 2020 468 492 237 280
Jun 8-12 2020 468 472 235 276
Jul 6-10 2020 467 461 233 272
Aug 3-7 2020 465 455 222 262
Aug 31-Sep 4 2020 459 436 216 254
Sep 28-Oct 2 2020 457 424 212 250
Oct 26-30 2020 456 423 209 249
Nov 23-27 2020 457 424 210 249
Dec 21-25 2020 463 461 210 250
Jan 18-22 2021 481 482 215 251
Feb 15-19 2021 522 530 245 288
Mar 15-19 2021 596 671 331 373
Apr 12-16 2021 609 700 345 387

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

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Russ Quinn