DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices were still mostly higher the third week of March 2017, but this climb higher appears to be slowing, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. And, for the first time in five weeks, not all of the fertilizers had higher prices.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to a month earlier. While all fertilizers but one were higher once again, none of the eight were up by any noteworthy amount. This is the fourth-consecutive week prices were relatively flat.

DAP had an average price of $438/ton, MAP $464/ton, potash $338/ton and urea $356/ton. 10-34-0 had an average price of $441/ton, anhydrous $507/ton, UAN28 $248/ton and UAN32 $280/ton.

Urea was the one fertilizer that saw its price drop. The nitrogen fertilizer was just slightly lower in price compared to one month ago, this time at $356/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.39/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to one year earlier. Half of the eight major fertilizer are double digits lower.

10-34-0 is 21% lower from a year ago, both anhydrous and UAN32 are 11% less expensive and UAN28 is 10% less expensive. Both potash and urea are 9% less expensive, DAP is 8% lower and MAP is 7% lower compared to one year earlier.

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
Mar 21-25 2016	475	501	371	390
Apr 18-22 2016	477	502	366	388
May 16-20 2016	476	501	365	384
June 13-17 2016	469	496	359	367
July 11-15 2016	467	496	358	360
Aug 8-12 2016	453	482	344	345
Sept 5-9 2016	446	464	325	325
Oct 3-7 2016	438	451	312	315
Oct 31-Nov 4 2016	436	451	314	319
Nov 28-Dec 2 2016	435	445	318	331
Dec 26-30 2016	431	443	321	336
Jan 23-27 2017	429	443	322	347
Feb 20-24 2017	433	452	332	359
Mar 20-24 2017	438	464	338	356
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Mar 21-25 2016	561	569	276	312
Apr 18-22 2016	561	588	274	322
May 16-20 2016	558	588	274	321
June 13-17 2016	555	566	266	305
July 11-15 2016	538	547	266	306
Aug 8-12 2016	528	522	249	299
Sept 5-9 2016	478	502	228	274
Oct 3-7 2016	454	472	224	263
Oct 31-Nov 4 2016	452	471	244	262
Nov 28-Dec 2 2016	447	465	217	256
Dec 26-30 2016	437	466	217	254
Jan 23-27 2017	436	480	235	268
Feb 20-24 2017	440	490	241	276
Mar 20-24 2017	441	507	248	280

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(TN/SK)

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