DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Urea, UAN28 Lead Retail Fertilizer Prices Higher

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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UAN28 was one of two fertilizers posting significantly higher prices this week. UAN28 prices were 6% higher. (DTN chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices remain mostly higher compared to last month, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of March 2024.

Two fertilizers were up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 8% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $574/ton. UAN28 was 6% higher in price looking back a month and had an average price of $358/ton.

Six fertilizers were all slightly higher or lower in price. Potash was slightly lower and had an average price of $506/ton.

The remaining five were slightly higher compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $778/ton, MAP $823/ton, 10-34-0 $628/ton, anhydrous $793/ton and UAN32 $402/ton.

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UAN32 was back above the $400/ton level for the first time since the third week of December 2023. That week the average price was $402/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.63/lb.N.

Recent legislation in the U.S. Senate to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior was positive for ensuring a strong domestic fertilizer supply for American farmers, according to a news release from The Fertilizer Institute (TFI).

"It is vital that we, as a country, take proactive steps to secure our own agricultural future by recognizing the role these minerals play in putting food on our tables," TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said. "Without these two minerals, modern agricultural systems would crumble and the ability to feed our growing population would be nearly impossible."

The U.S. has both phosphate and potash production but expanding mines and operating new ones is a costly and time-consuming process measured in years and in the tens of millions of dollars for permitting alone. Being listed as critical minerals would not exclude these projects from environmental reviews but would assign a single permitting agency to be responsible and streamline the process, according to TFI.

Most fertilizer prices are lower compared to one year ago but one fertilizer is now slightly higher. MAP is 1% higher looking back a year.

The remaining fertilizers are lower. DAP is 5% less expensive, urea is 8% lower, 10-34-0 15% less expensive, UAN28 is 17% lower, both potash and UAN32 are 22% less expensive and anhydrous is 23% lower compared to a year prior.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

A fertilizer spill in southwestern Iowa has led to a fish kill in a nearby river, according to a Iowa Department of Natural Resources press release. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Mar 20-Mar 24 2023 821 812 645 627
Apr 17-21 2023 826 812 643 626
May 15-19 2023 829 831 627 619
June 12-16 2023 823 832 621 624
July 10-14 2023 811 823 614 609
Aug 7-Aug 11 2023 758 764 566 576
Sep 4-8 2023 738 745 518 563
Oct 2-6 2023 705 791 508 573
Oct 30-Nov 3 2023 713 801 508 573
Nov 27-Dec 1 2023 715 820 518 552
Dec 25-29 2023 721 812 514 536
Jan 22-26 2024 734 809 509 527
Feb 19-23 2024 749 812 506 534
Mar 18-22 2024 778 823 506 574
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Mar 20-Mar 24 2023 740 1036 429 514
Apr 17-21 2023 740 995 423 507
May 15-19 2023 739 895 421 514
June 12-16 2023 737 781 406 476
July 10-14 2023 730 734 393 465
Aug 7-Aug 11 2023 714 634 369 400
Sep 4-8 2023 611 693 356 390
Oct 2-6 2023 609 790 354 414
Oct 30-Nov 3 2023 611 826 358 415
Nov 27-Dec 1 2023 595 847 341 409
Dec 25-29 2023 599 792 340 394
Jan 22-26 2024 610 770 335 390
Feb 19-23 2024 615 764 339 393
Mar 18-22 2024 628 793 358 402

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

Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RussQuinnDTN.

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Russ Quinn