DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- Farmers could purchase a ton of potash for $353 last July. That same ton of fertilizer costs $549 today, according to DTN's weekly survey of fertilizer retailers for the last week of July 2021.

While the average retail cost of potash is up 15% from the same time last month, none of the seven other fertilizers tracked by DTN saw a significant increase, which DTN designates as a price change of 5% or more. The price of two other fertilizers actually fell for the second week in a row.

After potash, MAP prices increased the most, about 4% higher than last month, to $753/ton.

DAP prices climbed 3% to $695/ton.

The average price of urea was about 2% higher than last month at $554/ton.

10-34-0 and anhydrous prices each inched about 1% higher at $631/ton and $737/ton, respectively.

UAN prices showed very minor declines, with the average price of UAN28 dropping $1 from last month to $365/ton. At $419/ton, UAN32 was $2/ton lower than last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.60/lb.N, anhydrous $0.45/lb.N, UAN28 $0.65/lb.N and UAN32 $0.65/lb.N.

The Mosaic Company, one of the world's largest potash producers, reported its quarterly revenue up 37% year-over-year to $2.8 billion as stronger pricing more than offset lower sales volumes.

"Mosaic's results for the second quarter of 2021 highlight the benefits of our transformation efforts in a strong pricing environment," Joc O'Rourke, president and CEO, said in a news release. "Underlying agricultural markets remain constructive, and this is driving demand for fertilizer. The second half of 2021 is expected to be one of our strongest periods in more than a decade."

The company said 90% of its anticipated third-quarter sales are already committed and priced, leading it to expect average realized prices of $90 to $100 per metric ton (mt) higher for phosphate products and $25 to $35 for potash. You can read the entire news release here: file:///….

Fertilizer prices at the retail level have all increased significantly from a year ago. 10-34-0 is now 36% more expensive, potash is 54% higher, urea is 56% more expensive, UAN32 is 60% higher, anhydrous is 62% more expensive, UAN28 64% higher, DAP is 69% more expensive and MAP is 75% higher compared to last year.

DTN surveys more than 300 retailers, gathering roughly 1,700 fertilizer price bids, to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index each week. In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

In last week's column, Russ Quinn took a deeper look at DTN's potash data, which dates back to 2010, to put the fertilizer's recent price run-up into perspective. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
Jul 27-31 2020	410	429	358	355
Aug 24-28 2020	430	435	352	355
Sep 21-25 2020	434	453	338	361
Oct 19-23 2020	446	476	332	359
Nov 16-20 2020	455	488	336	358
Dec 14-18 2020	466	522	360	361
Jan 11-15 2021	486	551	373	373
Feb 8-12 2021	588	642	398	453
Mar 8-12 2021	615	690	423	483
Apr 5-9 2021	618	699	431	504
May 3-7 2021	634	705	436	514
May 31-Jun 4 2021	652	712	443	524
Jun 28-Jul 2 2021	677	721	476	542
Jul 26-30 2021	695	753	549	554
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Jul 27-31 2020	465	454	223	262
Aug 24-28 2020	464	442	219	258
Sep 21-25 2020	457	425	215	253
Oct 19-23 2020	456	424	209	249
Nov 16-20 2020	455	422	207	249
Dec 14-18 2020	463	450	210	253
Jan 11-15 2021	469	474	210	247
Feb 8-12 2021	512	524	243	285
Mar 8-12 2021	581	625	306	344
Apr 5-9 2021	605	692	341	378
May 3-7 2021	618	712	358	398
May 31-Jun 4 2021	619	719	363	412
Jun 28-Jul 2 2021	625	730	366	421
Jul 26-30 2021	631	737	365	419

Katie Dehlinger can be reached at katie.dehlinger@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter at @KatieD_DTN

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