DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

More Fertilizers Look to Set Price Records as 2022 Planting Season Begins

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Potash prices increased 6% from last month to $875/ton. It's just $21/ton shy of the all-time record for potash set in November 2008. (DTN Chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to march higher and higher, according to locations tracked by DTN for the first week of April 2022. All fertilizers were higher once again compared to last month.

Leading the way higher was urea. The nitrogen fertilizer was 14% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $1,031/ton, which is an all-time high price in the DTN data set.

DAP was 13% higher compared the prior month with an average price of $1,040/ton, an all-time high price. MAP was 11% more expensive looking back a month with an average price of $1,056/ton.

Potash was also up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. Potash was 6% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $875/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were slightly higher compared to the previous month. 10-34-0 had an average price of $901/ton, anhydrous $1,534/ton (all-time high), UAN28 $629/ton (all-time high) and UAN32 $729/ton (all-time high).

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.12/lb.N, anhydrous $0.94/lb.N, UAN28 $1.12/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

In recent weeks, DAP moved to an all-time high price in our data set. This now puts five fertilizers (DAP, urea, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32) at all-time high price levels.

I wondered how close the remaining three fertilizers are to their all-time high prices.

MAP has an average price of $1,056/ton for the first week of April 2022. The all-time high price for this phosphorus fertilizer was set the first week of November 2008 at $1,079/ton, so we are only $23/ton away from setting a new all-time high price for MAP.

What about potash? The fertilizer's average price currently is $875/ton. The all-time high price for potash is $896/ton, also set the first week of November 2008; so we are just $21/ton away from a new high for potash.

The only fertilizer not threatening its all-time price level is 10-34-0.

Starter fertilizer has an average price of $901/ton the first week of April and the all-time high price is $1,250/ton, set the first week of November 2008. We are still $349/ton away from seeing a new high price in 10-34-0.

If prices continue to climb, we might establish new record high prices in MAP and potash in the coming weeks. The all-time high price for 10-34-0, however, appears to be safe.

For now.

Most fertilizers continue to be considerably higher in prices than one year earlier.

10-34-0 is 49% more expensive, MAP is 51% higher, DAP is 68% more expensive, UAN28 is 85% higher, UAN32 is 93% more expensive, potash is 103% is higher, urea is 105% higher and anhydrous is 122% more expensive compared to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

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, retail fertilizer prices moved higher lead by DAP, potash and MAP. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
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
Aug 23-27 2021 697 756 569 557
Sep 20-24 2021 709 786 625 585
Oct 18-22 2021 810 863 716 735
Nov 15-19 2021 825 911 769 859
Dec 13-17 2021 858 935 796 901
Jan 10-14 2022 863 932 807 913
Feb 7-11 2022 876 935 815 905
Mar 7-11 2022 919 955 822 901
April 4-8 2022 1040 1056 875 1031
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
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
Aug 23-27 2021 632 748 370 420
Sep 20-24 2021 633 772 383 436
Oct 18-22 2021 659 940 451 492
Nov 15-19 2021 739 1220 571 651
Dec 13-17 2021 790 1420 579 663
Jan 10-14 2022 796 1430 584 679
Feb 7-11 2022 827 1487 600 699
Mar 7-11 2022 866 1490 603 704
April 4-8 2022 901 1534 629 729

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

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Russ Quinn