DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

MT JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- The retail fertilizer price spike continues, with seven of the eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN posting significant gains and one setting a new record. UAN32 cost an average of $522 per ton in the fourth week of October, the highest in DTN's 13 years of gathering bids.

While the nitrogen fertilizer increased 18% in price from the previous month, it wasn't the largest price jump seen in the data this week. That honor goes to anhydrous, which climbed 26% from last month to $982/ton. It's nearing prices last seen in November 2008.

Urea, at $751/ton, increased 21% in price from last month. Like other nitrogen fertilizers facing supply crunches this year, it's closing in on its historical highs. According to DTN data, urea's highest retail price was $770/ton in the week of May 21, 2012.

The average retail price of UAN28 increased 18% from last month to $458/ton. The only higher price in DTN's database is $482/ton the week of Nov. 3, 2008.

The average retail price of potash increased 13% from the previous month to $731/ton, the highest since July 2009.

Phosphate prices also increased, with DAP up 12% at $812/ton and MAP up 9% at 873/ton.

The only fertilizer that didn't post a significant price increase, which DTN considers a change of 5% or more, was 10-34-0. Its price was 4% higher than last month at $663/ton.

All nitrogen fertilizers are now more than double in price what they were a year ago, with anhydrous up 131%, UAN28 119%, and urea and UAN32 110%. Potash is 120% higher, MAP is now 83% more expensive, DAP costs 81% more and 10-34-0 is up 46%.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from around 300 retailers 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/….

Last week, this column looked at how tight fertilizer supplies would influence South America's corn and soybean plantings. You can read more on that here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021	697	756	571	557
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021	722	800	647	620
Oct 25-29 2021	812	873	731	751
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Aug 30-Sep 3 2021	632	749	371	420
Sep 27-Oct 1 2021	638	782	388	444
Oct 25-29 2021	663	982	458	522

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

Follow her on Twitter at @KatieD_DTN

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