DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends
Fertilizer Prices Remain Slightly Lower
OMAHA (DTN) -- As the growing season marches on, retail fertilizer prices continue to decline slowly, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of July 2016.
All eight of the major fertilizers were lower in price compared to the previous month, but, as been the case in recent weeks, none were down an amount of any significance. DAP had an average price of $464/ton, MAP $493/ton, potash $357/ton and urea at $357/ton. 10-34-0 was at $546/ton, anhydrous $546/ton, UAN28 $260/ton and $304/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.33/lb.N, UAN28 $0.46/lb.N and UAN32 $0.48/lb.N.
Ken Johnson, DTN fertilizer columnist, reported on Monday that world fertilizer prices on the wholesale side also continue to push lower. Most fertilizers were lower on the wholesale market compared to the previous month.
The world ammonia market moved slightly lower in July as there was a slowdown of activity as buyers took a wait-and-see approach. World ammonia prices continue to run well below levels seen the last two years.
Domestic wholesale ammonia prices have also moved lower during July as sales became seasonally slow.
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"Low corn prices are hurting farmer attitudes and there is much uncertainty surrounding the UAN summer fill price," Johnson wrote. "For the short term, we look for domestic ammonia prices to run flat with an undertone of softness."
Johnson wrote both the world and domestic urea market worked their way lower in July. Domestic wholesalers/dealers are waiting for some demand indication from farmers and low crop prices are keeping farmers' attitudes negative. The corn crop is in excellent condition in many areas, which does not bode well for higher corn prices, wholesalers report.
"The slightly higher NOLA barge numbers seen for August reflect the need by some large buyers to begin layering product for the fall run," he wrote. "This could lead to some slight firmness in the short term, but with a steady supply of imported product landing into a slow market and the general oversupply in the world market, domestic urea prices seem likely to run mostly flat well into the medium term."
With buyer wariness and pressure from lower urea and ammonia prices, Johnson expects further declines in the domestic UAN prices in the short term. The wholesale price outlook for both domestic DAP and potash looks to run flat with an undertone of softness in the short term.
Ken Johnson writes the DTN Fertilizer Outlook column, which examines the world and domestic wholesale fertilizer market. This column is monthly and appears in the DTN fertilizer section.
Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double digits lower.
Both UAN32 and 10-34-0 are 14% lower, MAP is 17% less expensive and DAP is 18% lower. UAN28 is 20% lower, Anhydrous is 21% less expensive, urea is 24% lower and potash is 27% less expensive compared to last year.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to Nov. of 2008 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
DRY | ||||
Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
July 20-24 2015 | 569 | 594 | 487 | 469 |
Aug 17-21 2015 | 568 | 587 | 477 | 448 |
Sept 14-18 2015 | 563 | 579 | 462 | 432 |
Oct 12-16 2015 | 547 | 564 | 440 | 418 |
Nov 9-13 2015 | 547 | 561 | 426 | 405 |
Dec 7-11 2015 | 534 | 555 | 417 | 397 |
Jan 4-8 2016 | 495 | 521 | 392 | 381 |
Feb 1-5 2016 | 488 | 502 | 381 | 370 |
Feb 29-Mar 4 2016 | 476 | 492 | 373 | 374 |
Mar 28-Apr 1 2016 | 478 | 501 | 370 | 386 |
Apr 25-29 2016 | 476 | 502 | 366 | 386 |
May 23-27 2016 | 476 | 501 | 365 | 381 |
June 20-24 2016 | 470 | 495 | 358 | 366 |
July 18-22 2016 | 464 | 493 | 357 | 357 |
Liquid | ||||
Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
July 20-24 2015 | 636 | 689 | 324 | 354 |
Aug 17-21 2015 | 611 | 667 | 309 | 349 |
Sept 14-18 2015 | 593 | 653 | 300 | 345 |
Oct 12-16 2015 | 584 | 640 | 295 | 338 |
Nov 9-13 2015 | 581 | 631 | 289 | 332 |
Dec 7-11 2015 | 575 | 625 | 284 | 330 |
Jan 4-8 2016 | 572 | 582 | 273 | 316 |
Feb 1-5 2016 | 549 | 555 | 263 | 305 |
Feb 29-Mar 4 2016 | 566 | 537 | 260 | 309 |
Mar 28-Apr 1 2016 | 561 | 580 | 268 | 315 |
Apr 25-29 2016 | 560 | 587 | 274 | 321 |
May 23-27 2016 | 560 | 587 | 274 | 321 |
June 20-24 2016 | 554 | 567 | 265 | 305 |
July 18-22 2016 | 546 | 546 | 260 | 304 |
(CZ/BAS)
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