DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices continued to show little movement in either direction the third week of June 2017, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. A look at data collected by DTN so far this year shows prices for some fertilizers have barely budged since the beginning of the year.

Of the eight major fertilizers, prices for all but one were slightly lower compared to a month prior. DAP had an average price of $436 per ton, MAP $470/ton, urea $333/ton, 10-34-0 $435/ton, anhydrous $497/ton, UAN28 $243/ton and UAN32 $273/ton.

The remaining fertilizer, potash, was just slightly higher compared to the previous month. Potash had an average price of $340 per ton the third week of June 2017.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.36/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

To say retail fertilizer prices have been steady in 2017 would perhaps be an understatement. Twenty-five weeks into the year, an examination of prices collected by DTN shows very little change for many fertilizers since the beginning of the year.

For example, at the beginning of the year, 10-34-0 was at $436 per ton, and this past week, the price was at $435 per ton, a drop of just $1 per ton since the first of the year. DAP was $431 per ton in January, and last week the price was $436 per ton, a difference of only $5 per ton. Urea started the year at $339 per ton and last week was at $333, a difference of $6 per ton.

Prices for the remaining fertilizers were all double-digits higher compared to the beginning of the year, though prices for these fertilizers did see both increases and decreases from one month to the next. Both potash and UAN32 were $18 per ton higher the third week of June 2017 compared to the beginning of the year, UAN28 was $25 per ton higher, MAP $28 per ton higher and anhydrous $32 per ton higher.

While retail fertilizer prices remain fairly stable, there was one interesting item to note in prices this week. Anhydrous fell below $500 per ton for the first time since the third week in February 2017. That week, the price was $490 per ton.

Though prices for some fertilizers have inched higher since the beginning of the year, prices for all retail fertilizers are still lower compared to a year earlier. Three of the eight major fertilizers are still double-digits lower.

10-34-0 is 22% lower from a year ago while anhydrous is 12% less expensive and UAN32 is 10% lower. Both UAN32 and urea are down 9%, DAP is 7% less expensive and both MAP and potash are both 5% lower.

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
June 20-24 2016	470	495	358	366
July 18-22 2016	464	493	357	357
Aug 15-19 2016	452	471	333	337
Sept 12-16 2016	444	458	320	324
Oct 10-14 2016	438	452	313	316
Nov 7-11 2016	429	449	314	323
Dec 5-9 2016	434	443	318	333
Jan 2-6 2017	431	442	322	339
Jan 30-Feb 3 2017	430	448	329	353
Feb 27-Mar 03 2017	436	458	335	361
Mar 27-31 2017	438	465	338	356
Apr 24-28 2017	437	466	338	352
May 22-26 2017	436	471	340	343
Jun 19-23 2017	436	470	340	333
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
June 20-24 2016	554	567	265	305
July 18-22 2016	546	546	260	304
Aug 15-19 2016	513	516	238	285
Sept 12-16 2016	474	496	233	272
Oct 10-14 2016	454	475	224	264
Nov 7-11 2016	447	468	217	256
Dec 5-9 2016	445	463	219	257
Jan 2-6 2017	436	465	218	255
Jan 30-Feb 3 2017	439	482	236	270
Feb 27-Mar 03 2017	440	502	246	279
Mar 27-31 2017	441	508	248	279
Apr 24-28 2017	437	509	247	280
May 22-26 2017	436	503	249	280
Jun 19-23 2017	435	497	243	273

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

Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

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