DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Retail Fertilizer Prices Inch Higher Amid Stubborn Supply Concerns

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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MAP prices recently set a new all-time high and cost an average of $1,081/ton in the first week of May. The phosphorous fertilizer is now 53% more expensive than last year. (DTN Chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continue to be mostly higher compared to last month, according to prices tracked by DTN for the first week of May 2022.

Seven fertilizers were more expensive, although none were up significantly, which DTN designates as a price move of 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $1,057/ton (all-time high), MAP $1,081/ton (all-time high), potash $881/ton, 10-34-0 $906/ton, anhydrous $1,534/ton (all-time high), UAN28 $631/ton and UAN32 $730/ton (all-time high).

MAP set a new all-time high last week, continuing the streak of record-breaking movements in the fertilizer segment. According to DTN's 13-year data set, only potash and 10-34-0 have yet to break historical records.

One fertilizer was slightly lower compared to last month, but nothing noteworthy. Urea was slightly less expensive looking back to last month and had an average price of $1,001/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.09/lb.N, anhydrous $0.94/lb.N, UAN28 $1.13/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

In the most recent edition of the North American Agribusiness Review by Rabobank, analysts took a closer look at farm inputs, mainly fertilizer. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a great deal of volatility for the inputs market.

This situation, along with natural gas bearing the brunt of geopolitical scrutiny, has added a second pillar of uncertainly in global fertilizer markets.

"This has resulted in price dislocations and illiquid markets (exacerbated by seasonality) causing fertilizer prices to reach nominal and real-time records in some markets since the conflict began," the report stated. "This uncertainty is likely to persist over the coming months."

North American agricultural producers are likely to see tight markets, with the risk that uncertainty in the global sphere bleeds further into the U.S. Some regions may move earlier than normal to secure supplies for the upcoming season, given the potential long-term risk associated with the war.

Rabobank said there are two big events to watch for in the near future: potential demand destruction among growers due to record high prices and how the Chinese re-enter the global export market of nitrogen and phosphorus. You can read the full report here: https://research.rabobank.com/…

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

10-34-0 is 47% more expensive, MAP is 53% higher, DAP is 67% more expensive, UAN28 is 76% higher, UAN32 is 83% more expensive, urea is 95% is higher, potash is 102% higher and anhydrous is 115% 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.

Canadian fertilizer manufacturer Nutrien has increased fertilizer production in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Dow Jones reported. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
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
Apr 4-8 2022 1040 1056 875 1031
May 2-6 2022 1057 1081 881 1001
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
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
Apr 4-8 2022 901 1534 629 729
May 2-6 2022 906 1534 631 730

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

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Russ Quinn