DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

No Fireworks in Fertilizer Prices to Start July

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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The average retail price of UAN 28 hit a new high for the past year at $276/ton, 14% above last summer's prices. (DTN Chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Independence Day may have been last week, but there were no fireworks in retail fertilizer prices.

Prices tracked by DTN for the first week of July 2019 show prices continue to be mixed with no fertilizer posting a significant price move, which DTN considers to be a change of 5% or more.

Four fertilizers were higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $498/ton, up $1; MAP $532/ton, up $5; UAN28 $276/ton, up $5; and UAN32 $317/ton, up $3.

Three fertilizers were slightly lower compared to last month. Urea had an average price of $432/ton, down $2; 10-34-0 $482/ton, down $5; and anhydrous $584/ton, down $7.

In addition, one fertilizer was unchanged from the previous month. Potash had an average price of $392/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.47/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

These are cloudy times for fertilizer retailers when it comes to what direction fertilizer prices could move in the short term. Some retailers believe summer refill prices could be somewhat lower, while others believe higher prices could be in the works as farmers begin to think about the fall fertilizer application season.

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Fred Butt, sales agronomist for Donovan Farmers Coop located in Donovan, Illinois, said some fertilizer manufacturers are pushing for higher prices.

A major manufacturer already has higher prices for UAN, he said.

"But I don't know how successful they are going to be to get buyers," Butt told DTN.

Another nutrient that could see a price increase in the near term is potash. A major manufacturer came out a month ago with potash prices about $25/ton to $50/ton higher, he said.

"We bought some tons but not much," he said.

"In addition, issues with urea still sitting on barges on flooded Midwest rivers continue to make availability an issue. The nitrogen fertilizer continues to be hard to get, and this situation could be present until the flooding issues subsides somewhat," Butt said.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices shifting higher. DAP is 3% higher, MAP is 6% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 9% higher, potash is 11% more expensive, UAN32 is 13% higher, UAN28 is 14% more expensive, anhydrous is 16% more expensive and urea is 18% higher 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 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.

DRY
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Jul 2-6 2018 485 504 354 366
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 488 505 355 366
Aug 27-31 2018 487 513 357 365
Sep 24-28 2018 494 520 361 385
Oct 22-26 2018 499 518 366 406
Nov 19-23 2018 501 530 368 407
Dec 17-21 2018 508 532 377 407
Jan 14-18 2019 512 534 383 407
Feb 11-15 2019 512 537 385 405
Mar 11-15 2019 510 534 386 402
Apr 8-12 2019 505 532 387 404
May 6-10 2019 501 527 391 418
Jun 3-7 2019 497 527 392 434
Jul 1-5, 2019 498 532 392 432
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Jul 2-6 2018 443 505 242 279
Jul 30- Aug 3 2018 443 498 242 279
Aug 27-31 2018 446 480 233 271
Sep 24-28 2018 449 493 236 278
Oct 22-26 2018 457 499 243 284
Nov 19-23 2018 457 520 246 287
Dec 17-21 2018 457 565 265 304
Jan 14-18 2019 462 580 270 305
Feb 11-15 2019 470 596 271 318
Mar 11-15 2019 469 596 269 318
Apr 8-12 2019 481 592 271 317
May 6-10 2019 487 595 267 310
Jun 3-7 2019 487 591 271 314
Jul 1-5, 2019 482 584 276 317

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/CZ)

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Russ Quinn