DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Fertilizer Price Increases Stall as Anhydrous Hits $710

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of anhydrous was $710 per ton during the fourth week of April, up 4% from the previous month. The nitrogen fertilizer is 44% more expensive than last year. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- While prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were higher at the end of April compared to a month earlier, none were significantly higher, which DTN designates as 5% or more. It's the second week in a row prices showed more muted moves higher after several months of rising sharply.

For the fourth week of April 2021, DAP had an average price of $629/ton, MAP $703/ton and potash $433/ton, about a 1% increase in prices. Urea, at $513/ton, and 10-34-0, at $613/ton, were each up 2%. The average retail price of UAN28 increased 3% to $350/ton, while anhydrous and UAN32 were each up 4%, at $710/ton and $391/ton, respectively.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.56/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.61/lb.N.

Because of stronger market conditions, the Mosaic Co. reported that revenue rose $2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2021, which is an increase of 28% from the comparable period a year earlier. Both sales volumes of phosphates and potash were up in the quarter, Dow Jones reported.

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"Grower economics in most global growing regions remain attractive as a result of strong crop demand, affordable inputs and favorable weather," Mosaic said Monday.

The company reported an approximately $50 per metric ton improvement in profit margin in second quarter over the first one. This would be a $80 to $90/ton improvement in average realized prices, which are offset by $30 to $35 per finished product ton of higher raw material costs.

On its potash business, Mosaic said there are similar dynamics that continue to drive demand globally. The company expects to realize a $20 to $30 per ton improvement in average realized prices in the second quarter over the first quarter of 2021.

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 31% higher, urea is 33% more expensive, UAN32 40% higher, anhydrous is 44% more expensive, UAN28 is 48% 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 27-May 1 2020 413 433 370 386
May 25-29 2020 410 434 365 377
Jun 22-26 2020 404 429 363 359
Jul 20-24, 2020 407 428 360 358
Aug 17-21 2020 427 434 353 356
Sep 14-18 2020 434 448 344 360
Oct 12-16 2020 445 475 332 359
Nov 9-13 2020 454 486 333 358
Dec 7-11 2020 456 510 348 361
Jan 4-8 2021 482 543 369 368
Feb 1-5 2021 554 601 389 429
Mar 1-5 2021 609 673 416 474
Mar 29-Apr 2 2021 618 697 429 502
Apr 26-30 2021 629 703 433 513
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 27-May 1 2020 468 492 237 279
May 25-29 2020 468 478 236 279
Jun 22-26 2020 468 463 233 273
Jul 20-24, 2020 466 460 225 263
Aug 17-21 2020 465 445 220 259
Sep 14-18 2020 455 431 219 253
Oct 12-16 2020 457 424 209 249
Nov 9-13 2020 455 422 208 248
Dec 7-11 2020 464 429 210 252
Jan 4-8 2021 464 470 209 251
Feb 1-5 2021 502 507 239 272
Mar 1-5 2021 560 560 254 304
Mar 29-Apr 2 2021 599 685 340 377
Apr 26-30 2021 613 710 350 391

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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Russ Quinn