DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Nitrogen Fertilizers Extend Record Price Streak as 10-34-0 Plays Catch-Up

Katie Micik Dehlinger
By  Katie Micik Dehlinger , Farm Business Editor
10-34-0 gained 10% compared to last month with an average price of $719 per ton. The starter fertilizer's price has increased less than many others this year, but it's still 58% more expensive than last year. (DTN chart)

MT JULIET, Tenn. (DTN) -- Anhydrous, urea, UAN28 and UAN32 set new all-time highs this week, according to prices tracked by DTN for the second week of November. The average price of 10-34-0, a starter fertilizer for corn, jumped 10% from last month, which is notable because it hasn't seen many double-digit percentage gains during this fall rally in retail prices.

All but one of the major fertilizers tracked by DTN posted a significant price change compared to the prior month, which DTN considers 5% or more.

Anhydrous led the way with an average price of $1,162 per ton, up 33% from last month.

UAN28 was 28% higher at $566/ton, while UAN32 was 26% higher at $614/ton.

Urea, up 16% compared to last month, cost an average of $832/ton.

Recently, 10-34-0 prices have been the tortoise in this race to higher prices, but compared to last month, the starter fertilizer saw a sizeable 10% gain to $719/ton. While that's nowhere near the record of $1,250/ton set in November 2008, it's the highest since early June 2012.

Potash, with an average price of $762/ton, gained 7% from last month.

Phosphate fertilizers showed the lowest month-over-month gains, with MAP prices climbing 5% to $906/ton and DAP prices increasing by 3% to $821/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.90/lb.N, anhydrous $0.71/lb.N, UAN28 $1.01/lb.N and UAN32 $0.96/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are higher in price than a year ago. Nitrogen fertilizers show the largest increases. Anhydrous is 175% more expensive, UAN28 costs 172% more, UAN32 is up 147% and urea is 133% higher. Farmers are paying 129% more for potash, 87% more for MAP, 81% more for DAP and 58% more for 10-34-0.

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, anhydrous prices pushed above $1,100 per ton for the first time since 2008. This column explored the impact to farmers' expenses for next year's crop and whether it would be enough to sway acreage decisions. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
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
May 24-28 2021 652 709 443 523
Jun 21-25 2021 670 720 469 541
Jul 19-23 2021 695 750 543 553
Aug 16-20 2021 695 755 564 556
Sep 13-17 2021 702 776 598 572
Oct 11-15 2021 798 860 710 719
Nov 8-12 2021 821 906 762 832
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
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
May 24-28 2021 619 719 361 407
Jun 21-25 2021 625 724 366 420
Jul 19-23 2021 632 736 365 419
Aug 16-20 2021 631 743 369 420
Sep 13-17 2021 632 762 381 428
Oct 11-15 2021 654 873 442 488
Nov 8-12 2021 719 1162 566 614

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

Follow her on Twitter at @KatieD_DTN

Katie Dehlinger