DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of April 2024 continued to be slightly higher. Seven of the eight major fertilizers are higher in price compared to a month.

Despite the increases, no fertilizer was up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Seven fertilizers were slightly more expensive compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $781/ton, MAP $830/ton, urea $585/ton, 10-34-0 $641/ton, anhydrous $794/ton, UAN28 $364/ton and UAN32 $418/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly lower in price looking back a month. Potash was down just slightly and had an average price of $513/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.64/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.65/lb.N and UAN32 $0.65/lb.N.

In the most recent edition of the North American Agribusiness Review from Rabobank, their analysts believe the bridge collapse in the Port of Baltimore will have a limited effect on the UAN market. While roughly 15% of the U.S. UAN imports come through that port, it is important to temper fears of a shortage of UAN.

"Retail prices for UAN show all the usual cadences of seasonal cyclicality, often peaking in price in May," according to the report. "This seasonal spread has tended to be quite tight, with price inflection [points] March-to-May over the previous ten years seldom in excess of 5% (at the retail level)."

Imports have been robust over the last 12 months and that is helping the UAN market. The price response to the closure was muted at best with little response at the wholesale level west of the Mississippi River and East Coast UAN wholesale prices are now trading below the March 26 price quote.

"Volumes are likely to be rerouted and supply met," the report said.

Most fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago, but one fertilizer is slightly higher. MAP is 3% higher looking back a year.

The remaining fertilizers are lower. Urea is 2% less expensive, DAP is 6% lower, 10-34-0 13% less expensive, UAN28 is 14% lower, anhydrous is 15% less expensive and both potash and UAN32 are now 18% 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 Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) was released last week, according to a press release from the University of Minnesota Extension You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
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
Apr 22-26 2024	781	830	513	585
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
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
Apr 22-26 2024	641	794	364	418

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

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