DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Prices for Half of Fertilizers Considerably Lower

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price for urea was 6% lower the second week of August 2022 compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $812 per ton. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN continued to move lower in the second week of August 2022.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now lower compared to a month ago. In addition, half of the fertilizers are now down a considerable amount, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 6% lower compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $812 per ton. Anhydrous was also down 6% from last month and had an average price of $1,365/ton.

Both DAP and UAN28 were 5% less expensive compared to a month ago. DAP had an average price of $982/ton, while UAN28 is at $578/ton.

DAP dropped below the $1,000-per-ton level for the first time since the second week of March 2022. That week, the price was $970/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were just slightly lower. MAP had an average price of $1,032/ton, potash $881/ton, 10-34-0 $8881/ton and UAN32 $678/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.88/lb.N, anhydrous $0.83/lb.N, UAN28 $1.03/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding. According to a USDA news release (https://www.usda.gov/…), the funding will improve opportunities for nutrient management.

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will target funding, increase program flexibilities and launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management's economic benefits. This is in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans.

"Agriculture has long been at the forefront of our fight against climate change," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. "From climate-smart agriculture, to supporting healthy forests and conservation, to tax credits, to biofuels, infrastructure and beyond, the Inflation Reduction Act provides USDA with significant additional resources to continue to lead the charge."

Despite lower prices in recent months, all fertilizers continue to be considerably higher in price than one year earlier.

MAP is 37% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 40% higher, DAP is 41% more expensive, urea is 46% higher, potash is 56% more expensive, UAN28 is 58% higher, UAN32 is 62% more expensive and anhydrous is 85% higher 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/….

Nutrien announced last week its interim CEO was assuming the role of president and CEO permanently. You can read about that here: https:///…www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2022/08/10/urea-anhydrous-lead-fertilizers.

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Aug 9-13 2021 695 755 563 555
Sep 6-10 2021 699 757 575 558
Oct 4-8 2021 736 829 675 653
Nov 1-5 2021 814 900 750 820
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 836 918 777 873
Dec 27-31 2021 864 931 809 911
Jan 24-28 2022 877 936 814 910
Feb 21-25 2022 874 934 815 885
Mar 21-25 2022 1014 1018 850 976
Apr 18-22 2022 1050 1079 879 1012
May 16-20 2022 1059 1083 878 993
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 1046 1074 879 961
Jul 11-15 2022 1030 1052 885 861
Aug 8-12 2022 982 1032 881 812
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Aug 9-13 2021 630 740 366 418
Sep 6-10 2021 631 750 371 422
Oct 4-8 2021 639 803 400 456
Nov 1-5 2021 702 1113 545 604
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 756 1313 575 661
Dec 27-31 2021 795 1428 583 679
Jan 24-28 2022 817 1492 601 699
Feb 21-25 2022 837 1488 602 703
Mar 21-25 2022 881 1523 622 698
Apr 18-22 2022 906 1534 631 730
May 16-20 2022 906 1529 634 731
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 905 1516 630 730
Jul 11-15 2022 904 1449 606 701
Aug 8-12 2022 881 1365 578 678

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

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Russ Quinn