DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices for the third week of December 2021 continued to move higher, albeit at a slower pace.

The percentage higher moves are not as much as they have been in recent weeks. In fact, all of the moves were in the single-digit range, something that hasn't happened since the second week of September 2021.

Only three of the eight major fertilizers are showing a significant move higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or greater.

Leading the way higher is anhydrous, which was up 9% from a month prior. The nitrogen fertilizer's average price was at $1,424/ton, which continues to be an all-time high in the DTN data.

10-34-0 was 5% more expensive compared to last month. The starter fertilizer's average price was at $791/ton.

Urea was 5% more expensive compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $910/ton, which was also an all-time high.

The remaining five fertilizers had just slight price increases compared to the prior month. DAP had an average price of $862/ton, MAP $932/ton, potash $807/ton, UAN28 $583/ton (all-time high) and UAN32 $679/ton (all-time high).

Potash topped the $800/ton level for the first time since the fourth week of June 2009, when the price was $815/ton. The all-time high price for potash is $896/ton which was seen the first week of November 2008.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.99/lb.N, anhydrous $0.87/lb.N, UAN28 $1.04/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

With rising input prices, led by the large increases in fertilizer prices, corn and soybean producers' profitability will depend largely on the continued strength of grain prices, Dow Jones reported on Tuesday.

University of Illinois' Scott Irwin and Joe Janzen said demand for U.S. grains in the global market remains somewhat uncertain, while exports will determine the level of ending stocks for this marketing year and the state of play for the 2022 crop.

"Rising input costs, particularly for fertilizer are squeezing projected margins," the pair said.

The duo said the current data corroborates the idea that soybeans will meet export projections, but they are not sure about corn.

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show all fertilizers have increased significantly with several having well over 100% price increases.

10-34-0 is now 71% more expensive, MAP is 74% higher, DAP is 82% more expensive, potash is 121% higher, urea is 151% more expensive, UAN32 is 171% higher, UAN28 178% is more expensive and anhydrous is 208% 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/….

Frustrated farmers are adjusting their spring planting plans because of the considerably higher fertilizer prices. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

The recent DTN Global Fertilizer Outlook series focused attention on what the world expectation could be in 2022. This series examined the supply and demand of nutrients globally as well as what direction fertilizer prices could go in 2022.

Read the nitrogen outlook here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Read the phosphorus outlook here:

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Read the potash outlook here:

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Nov 22-26 2021	830	915	775	868
Dec 20-24 2021	862	932	807	910
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Nov 22-26 2021	755	1308	574	660
Dec 20-24 2021	791	1424	583	679

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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