DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly higher the first week of August 2021, led by potash, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

Six of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to last month, with only potash up a significant amount, which DTN designates at 5% or more. Potash was up 13% compared to the prior month, and now has an average price of $557 per ton.

MAP prices increased 4% to $755/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were just slightly higher. DAP had an average price of $695/ton, urea $556/ton, 10-34-0 $631/ton and anhydrous $738/ton.

Two fertilizers, UAN28 and UAN32, were slightly lower in price looking back a month. UAN28 had an average price of $367/ton and UAN32 $418/ton.

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 retail fertilizer market and its iffy supply channel is making fertilizer retailers nervous as fall rapidly approaches. Bob Spratt, manager of LeRoy Fertilizer Services located in LeRoy, Illinois, told DTN a storm could be brewing with a possible limited supply of crop nutrients.

"I have not seen a fertilizer market like this ever -- even in the 2008 market," Spratt told DTN. "We are going to face supply issues like never before, I feel."

The supply issues aren't related to COVID-19 (although the worldwide pandemic probably hasn't helped any) but they are related to other issues. These include the draining of the fertilizer supply chain in 2020, the chemical plant shutdowns from the freeze in Texas last February and the lack of available fertilizer imports, he said.

Spratt said there just is no advantage to importing fertilizer into the U.S. right now.

"The question is: Will we be able to get fertilizer when we need it?" he said. "It's crazy."

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show all fertilizers have increased significantly.

10-34-0 is now 36% more expensive, potash is 56% higher, urea is 57% more expensive, UAN32 is 60% higher, anhydrous is 62% more expensive, UAN28 65% higher, DAP is 67% more expensive and MAP is 76% 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, DTN Farm Business Editor Katie Dehlinger explained Mosaic Company's outlook for the potash market. Read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
May 10-14 2021	631	702	437	515
Jun 7-11 2021	656	717	450	527
Jul 5-9 2021	690	729	491	549
Aug 2-6 2021	695	755	557	556
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
May 10-14 2021	620	713	361	406
Jun 7-11 2021	620	718	363	414
Jul 5-9 2021	624	732	371	421
Aug 2-6 2021	631	738	367	418

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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