DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail fertilizer prices continue to be mostly higher the first full week of May 2018, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were once again priced higher than last month, although none by a significant amount. DAP had an average price of $483 per ton, MAP $505/ton, potash $354/ton, 10-34-0 $431/ton, anhydrous $512/ton, UAN28 $241/ton and UAN32 $276/ton.

The remaining fertilizer was slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. Urea had an average price of $366/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Five of the eight major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Anhydrous is now up 1%, both potash and urea are 4% higher, MAP is up 9%, and DAP is 11% higher than last year.

The remaining three fertilizers are lower in price compared to a year ago. Both 10-34-0 and UAN32 are 1% lower, while UAN28 is 3% lower than a year ago.

Fertilizer manufacturer The Mosaic Company announced on Monday it intends to move its corporate headquarters from Plymouth, Minnesota, to Hillsborough County, Florida. The details of the move, including timing, the exact location of the corporate office and the number of employees to be relocated, remains under consideration, according to the company's news release.

The move is expected to yield several benefits to the company. It will allow the headquarters to be closer and have better access to Mosaic Fertilizantes, the name given to its Brazilian operation after the company acquired the Brazilian company Vale Fertilizantes. The sale was completed in January of 2018.

Other reasons for the move, according to Mosaic, were to focus on the potash business and to amplify the company's presence in central Florida. Significant long-term cost savings are also expected. The company has 17 of its 25 U.S. facilities located within Florida, with several facilities there in phosphate production.

"Mosaic is among the largest employers and most significant corporate economic drivers in Central Florida," said Mosaic President and CEO Joc O'Rourke.

"We believe locating our corporate office there will give us opportunities to amplify Mosaic's presence and engage more closely with communities where we operate. With the cost savings we expect to achieve and the closer proximity to our Mosaic Fertilizantes business in Brazil, this move will drive improved efficiency and good value."

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 2010 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
May 8-12 2017	437	466	340	351
Jun 5-9 2017	438	469	339	338
Jul 3-7 2017	436	467	339	325
Jul 31-Aug 4 2017	434	463	339	311
Aug 28-Sept 1 2017	433	457	338	303
Sep 15-29 2017	432	453	348	321
Oct 23-27 2017	431	453	347	325
Nov 20-24 2017	435	460	342	338
Dec 18-22 2017	445	485	344	348
Jan 15-19 2018	456	491	345	355
Feb 12-16 2018	457	495	345	357
Mar 12-16 2018	466	503	350	368
Apr 9-13 2018	482	504	353	369
May 7-11 2018	483	505	354	366
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
May 8-12 2017	437	508	247	280
Jun 5-9 2017	435	503	246	278
Jul 3-7 2017	432	462	236	268
Jul 31-Aug 4 2017	426	418	227	262
Aug 28-Sept 1 2017	418	417	215	248
Sep 15-29 2017	413	396	208	243
Oct 23-27 2017	407	393	205	262
Nov 20-24 2017	403	410	216	272
Dec 18-22 2017	405	461	218	254
Jan 15-19 2018	407	485	226	260
Feb 12-16 2018	415	492	230	264
Mar 12-16 2018	421	503	237	282
Apr 9-13 2018	427	510	241	275
May 7-11 2018	431	512	241	276

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

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(ES/AG)

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