DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retailers tracked by DTN for the fourth week of March 2024 show all eight major fertilizer prices are higher compared to last month. This marks the second time all fertilizers have been higher this winter/early spring.

Two fertilizers continue to be up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 8% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $576/ton. UAN28 was 5% higher in price looking back a month and had an average price of $360/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were slightly more expensive compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $779/ton, MAP $827/ton, potash $513/ton, 10-34-0 $632/ton, anhydrous $794/ton and UAN32 $404/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.63/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.63/lb.N.

Fertilizer analysts believe there could be some UAN supply disruptions this spring with the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. This, in turn, could lead to higher prices. DTN wrote about this subject last week (https://www.dtnpf.com/…).

The Port of Baltimore handles about 10% of the annual UAN imports to the United States, mostly from Russia, according to Chris Lawson, head of fertilizer for consulting firm CRU. Few other nutrients are imported to Baltimore Harbor, he said.

Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer for StoneX Group Inc., said how long the port is closed will have a large effect on what happens to the UAN market.

If investigators take a long time and leave the port closed, this could lead to some UAN shortages and higher prices. If they streamline the process and open up the port soon, then there could be little impact on the UAN market, he said.

No one really knows at this time, Linville said.

For more DTN coverage on the impact on agriculture from the bridge collapse in Baltimore, see the following articles:

"Tragedy Strikes Baltimore as Ship Crashes into Francis Scott Key Bridge,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Baltimore Bridge Collapse Could Affect Farm Machinery Shipments,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Recent legislation in the U.S. Senate to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals was a positive sign, according to The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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/….

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Oct 9-13 2023	711	794	506	575
Nov 6-10 2023	714	802	509	573
Dec 4-8 2023	713	820	516	543
Jan 1-5 2024	725	812	513	534
Jan 29-Feb 2 2024	735	809	509	527
Feb 26-Mar 1 2024	756	812	505	536
Mar 25-29 2024	779	827	513	576
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Oct 9-13 2023	613	804	356	418
Nov 6-10 2023	613	830	360	415
Dec 4-8 2023	595	847	340	409
Jan 1-5 2024	599	789	336	394
Jan 29-Feb 2 2024	610	770	334	390
Feb 26-Mar 1 2024	615	769	341	394
Mar 25-29 2024	632	794	360	404

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

Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RussQuinnDTN.

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