DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of December 2025 continue to show mostly lower fertilizer prices for the second week in a row.

Once again, six fertilizers were slightly lower while the remaining two fertilizers were a little higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Three fertilizers were considerably lower. DAP had a 6% decline in price compared to last month. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $873/ton.

Both potash and urea were 5% less expensive looking back a month. MAP had an average price of $884/ton while urea was at $567/ton.

The remaining two nutrients slightly higher in price were 10-34-0 at $674/ton and anhydrous at $864/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.53/lb.N, UAN28 $0.73/lb.N and UAN32 $0.73/lb.N.

Last week, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) commented on the submittal of an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) requesting approval of a merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads.

"The fertilizer industry relies heavily on rail, and many shippers already operate with limited transportation options, increasing costs, and continued service challenges, all with a "take-it-or-leave-it" approach from railroads. Our priority is a rail system that provides reliable service and a balanced relationship between carriers and carload shippers, with accountability for systemic rail service failures and a rate review process that is efficient, timely, and economical."

TFI is still reviewing the STB filing but the organization said in a press release it is difficult to see how any coast-to-coast merger would improve this imbalance or meet the standard set out by the STB's merger rules.

"Today railroads hold all the cards, and larger railroads only give carriers a bigger deck. Now that UP and NS have submitted their merger application, we urge the Board to make the merger's impact on carload shippers, including fertilizer and agriculture, a priority during the review process."

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier: both MAP and potash by 9%, 10-34-0 by 10%, urea by 16%, DAP by 18%, anhydrous by 20% and both UAN28 and UAN32 by 28%.

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/….

Retail fertilizer prices are mostly lower compared to a month earlier. You can read about that here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

DTN is currently running its Global Fertilizer Outlook special series. The third one and final story, on potash, will be posted Dec. 26 at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

See the first two stories in the series:

-- Global Fertilizer Outlook - 1, "2026 Nitrogen Prices Will Be Determined by Several Global Factors, Including N Supply," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- Global Fertilizer Outlook - 2, "Less Chinese Phosphorus Exports, Continuing Countervailing Duties Affect P 2026 Outlook," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Dry
Date Range	DAP	MAP	POTASH	UREA
Dec 16-20 2024	738	810	442	488
Jan 13-17 2025	739	809	443	492
Feb 10-14 2025	754	809	442	536
Mar 10-14 2025	765	810	447	548
Apr 7-11 2025	777	822	467	572
May 5-9 2025	787	825	473	621
June 2-6 2025	802	832	475	663
June 30-July 4 2025	810	847	481	656
July 28-Aug 1 2025	817	884	483	645
Aug 25-30 2025	853	910	485	632
Sep 22-26 2025	904	922	486	619
Oct 20-24 2025	926	932	487	598
Nov 17-21 2025	928	926	490	594
Dec 15-19 2025	873	884	484	567
Liquid
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Dec 16-20 2024	613	721	320	363
Jan 13-17 2025	616	737	326	366
Feb 10-14 2025	638	747	342	393
Mar 10-14 2025	646	751	354	397
Apr 7-11 2025	655	780	373	439
May 5-9 2025	665	783	406	484
June 2-6 2025	669	776	419	495
June 30-July 4 2025	672	770	418	501
July 28-Aug 1 2025	672	762	419	497
Aug 25-30 2025	667	765	417	482
Sep 22-26 2025	666	780	420	474
Oct 20-24 2025	667	842	413	466
Nov 17-21 2025	667	862	417	466
Dec 15-19 2025	674	864	409	466

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

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