DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for all fertilizers were down from last month during the second week of September 2023 except for the price of anhydrous, which climbed again, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were less expensive compared to last week, though only three saw a significant drop, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. 10-34-0 was 15% lower compared to last month with an average price of $600 per ton. Potash was 10% less expensive looking back to last month with an average price of $500/ton. DAP was 5% lower compared to the prior month with an average price of $710/ton.

Prices for the remaining four fertilizers were just slightly lower compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $742/ton, urea $554/ton, UAN28 $353/ton and UAN32 $389/ton.

As has been the case the past two weeks, the only fertilizer with a higher price was anhydrous. The nitrogen fertilizer was 11% more expensive compared to last month with an average price of $696/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.60/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.63/lb.N and UAN32 $0.61/lb.N.

A collaboration between Northwestern University and the University of Toronto has found that producing urea by using electrified synthesis could denitrify wastewater while also enabling low-carbon-intensity urea, according to an article at www.Phys.org. (https://phys.org/…)

The process, which includes converting carbon dioxide and waste nitrogen by using a hybrid catalyst made of zinc and copper, could benefit wastewater treatment facilities by reducing their carbon footprint and supplying a potential revenue stream.

"It's estimated that synthetic fertilizer supports half of the global population," said Northwestern professor Ted Sargent. "A chief priority of decarbonization efforts is to increase quality of life on Earth, while simultaneously decreasing society's net CO2 intensity."

There's a way to go before this process can be commercialized, the researcher said. The reaction as it stands now does not account for impurities found in a water treatment context, and they also hope to increase the amount of time their process can operate.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago: DAP by 25%, MAP by 27%, 10-34-0 by 30%, urea by 32%, UAN28 by 39%, UAN32 by 41%, potash by 43%, and anhydrous is 49% cheaper.

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/….

Minnesota farmers are reminded that fall nitrogen fertilizer applications are restricted in some areas of the state, according to a recent Minnesota Department of Agriculture news release. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DRY
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
June 19-23 2023	825	827	618	619
July 17-21 2023	807	812	608	596
Aug 14-18 2023	745	762	558	573
Sep 11-15 2023	710	742	500	554
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
June 19-23 2023	734	755	402	471
July 17-21 2023	717	713	385	457
Aug 14-18 2023	705	630	359	399
Sep 11-15 2023	600	696	353	389

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

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