DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Retail Fertilizer Prices Remain Mostly Higher

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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At $1,000 per ton, the average retail price of urea declined slightly from last month. The nitrogen fertilizer is still 94% more expensive than at this time last year. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of May 2022 continue to show mostly higher nutrient prices. But for the first time in many weeks, two different fertilizers were slightly lower.

The price of six fertilizers were more expensive, but none were up a substantial amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $1,059 per ton (all-time high), MAP $1,083/ton (all-time high), potash $881/ton, 10-34-0 $906/ton, UAN28 $634/ton (all-time high) and UAN32 $730/ton (all-time high).

Two fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month, but neither hit the 5% threshold of significance. Urea was slightly less expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $1,000/ton, while anhydrous was at $1,529/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $1.09/lb.N, anhydrous $0.93/lb.N, UAN28 $1.13/lb.N and UAN32 $1.14/lb.N.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) welcomed a recent announcement that USDA will be doubling its initial $250 million investment in domestic fertilizer production to $500 million, TFI said in a news release from last week.

Corey Rosenbusch, TFI president and CEO, said the U.S. has one of the most robust and competitive fertilizer industries in the world. It is one of only three countries to have at least 20 unique fertilizer producers.

"We look forward to working with USDA on how to most efficiently leverage those funds in a way that positively impacts farmers who rely on fertilizers to feed crops that feed the world," Rosenbusch said.

Additional improvements include expanded eligibility for the 590 grant program allowing agricultural retailers to be eligible for Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) grants and Regional Conservation Partnerships Program (RCPP) funds, building a dedicated Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) initiative to support and encourage sustainable, climate-smart nutrient stewardship practice adoption and to increase the cost-share rate with NRCS to 75%.

"Food security is national security," he said. "We thank President (Joe) Biden for his focus on these critical issues and we will continue working with the administration to ensure U.S. farmers receive this necessary input and have the tools they need to promote the efficient and sustainable use of fertilizer."

To read the entire news release, click on the following link: https://www.tfi.org/….

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

10-34-0 is 46% more expensive, MAP is 54% higher, DAP is 68% more expensive, UAN28 is 76% higher, UAN32 is 80% more expensive, urea is 94% is higher, potash is 102% higher and anhydrous is 114% 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 a recent Rabobank report, agricultural producers have seen increase fertilizer prices, and these increases will likely be staying around for a while. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
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
Jan 17-21 2022 863 932 807 916
Feb 14-18 2022 874 935 815 891
Mar 14-18 2022 970 1001 843 954
Apr 11-15 2022 1047 1071 875 1017
May 9-13 2022 1059 1083 881 1000
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
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
Jan 17-21 2022 800 1433 585 683
Feb 14-18 2022 837 1488 603 703
Mar 14-18 2022 876 1520 610 706
Apr 11-15 2022 906 1534 630 730
May 9-13 2022 906 1529 634 730

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

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Russ Quinn