DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- According to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of May 2023, fertilizers are mostly higher. This is the first time since November of 2022 that more fertilizers were higher in price than lower compared to the prior month.

Five of the eight major fertilizers are higher in price compared to last month. Only one fertilizer was substantially more expensive. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 5% higher compared to the prior month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $623/ton.

Four other fertilizers were slightly more expensive looking back a month. DAP had an average price of $834/ton, MAP $832/ton, potash $624/ton and UAN32 $509/ton.

Three fertilizers were lower compared to a month ago. One fertilizer, anhydrous, was 14% less expensive with an average price of $798/ton, or $130/ton less than last month.

After dropping below $1,000/ton just five weeks ago, anhydrous fell below the $800/ton level for the first time since the fourth week of September 2021. That week the average anhydrous price was $782/ton.

Two fertilizers were just slightly less expensive compared to the prior month. 10-34-0 had an average price of $739/ton and UAN28 $419/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.68/lb.N, anhydrous $0.49/lb.N, UAN28 $0.75/lb.N and UAN32 $0.80/lb.N.

Verde AgriTech, a Singapore-based fertilizer manufacturer, has asked its shareholders to approve a proposal to ban sales of its product to farmers in certain areas of the Amazon rainforest, according to Dow Jones.

The company operates two plants in Brazil that manufacture a potassium-based fertilizer that the company says is better for the environment than potash. It expects the move to have little to no effect on the company's revenue, according to CEO Cristiano Veloso.

The proposed ban might instead inspire other companies to consider similar bans, Veloso said.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 19% less expensive, DAP is 21% lower, MAP is 23% less expensive, potash is 29%, UAN32 is 30% lower, UAN28 is 34% less expensive, urea is 37% less expensive and anhydrous is 48% lower compared to a year prior.

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/….

The total number of fertilizer carloads by Class I railroads was at an all-time high in May of 2023. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
May 23-27 2022	1056	1082	879	989
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022	1040	1058	885	902
Jul 18-22 2022	1007	1043	887	836
Aug 15-19 2022	978	1026	881	807
Sep 12-16 2022	952	1009	877	808
Oct 10-14 2022	925	986	863	824
Nov 7-11 2022	931	980	853	812
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022	920	950	819	784
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023	876	879	752	739
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023	847	862	704	698
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023	827	827	666	648
Mar 27-31 2023	818	810	644	626
Apr 24-28 2023	827	804	624	595
May 22-26 2023	834	832	624	623
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
May 23-27 2022	906	1531	634	731
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022	905	1497	616	716
Jul 18-22 2022	894	1431	598	696
Aug 15-19 2022	878	1336	576	676
Sep 12-16 2022	861	1369	578	665
Oct 10-14 2022	759	1417	576	670
Nov 7-11 2022	758	1434	582	680
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022	751	1415	581	681
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023	754	1302	573	673
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023	754	1223	518	583
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023	741	1077	444	525
Mar 27-31 2023	741	1026	428	513
Apr 24-28 2023	740	928	426	508
May 22-26 2023	739	798	419	509

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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