DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices remain stable, continuing their pattern in recent weeks, according to fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of April 2015.

Five of the eight major fertilizers edged higher in price compared to a month earlier but these moves were fairly minor, including 10-34-0, which had been moving significantly higher for several months. DAP had an average price of $571 per ton, potash $492/ton, 10-34-0 $652/ton, anhydrous $711/ton and UAN32 $371/ton.

Two fertilizers were lower compared to the previous month, but again the move down was fairly small. Urea had an average price of $455/ton and UAN28 $332/ton.

One fertilizer, MAP, was unchanged from a month earlier. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $598/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.49/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.59/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

DTN has reported much on the aftermath of the West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion on April 17, 2013, which killed 15 people and caused much property damage. Earlier this month, the Texas House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to strengthen ammonium nitrate storage rules.

"The bill passed [April 24] -- which still must pass the state Senate and be signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott -- would give local fire marshals the power to inspect facilities and order owners to make changes if any conditions in the facility could cause a fire or explosion," the Associated Press reported.

The bill would also require ammonium nitrate to be stored away from combustible materials. In addition, it would require facilities to report hazardous chemicals to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which then must make the chemical storage information public.

The proposal was advanced by Republican Rep. Kyle Kacal, whose district includes West. The measure is "good enough for West," Kacal said.

Other lawmakers said the state did not include stiffer measures because Texas is concerned these type of bills and possible regulations could harm business.

"My fear was, and is -- did we learn our lesson, and is this enough? I don't believe so," said El Paso Democratic Rep. Joe Pickett, who chaired an interim panel into the West incident, AP reported.

Read more of DTN's past coverage on the West, Texas, fertilizer explosion at http://tinyurl.com/…

Only one of the eight major fertilizers is double digits higher in price compared to April/May of 2014, all while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago. 10-34-0 remains 22% higher compared to last year.

Two other fertilizers are slightly more expensive compared to a year earlier. Potash is 3% more expensive while anhydrous 2% more expensive compared to a year earlier.

The remaining five nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. Both DAP and MAP are 4% lower, UAN28 is down 7%, UAN32 is now 8% less expensive and urea is 19% less expensive from a 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 November 2008 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
Apr 28-May 2 2014	597	625	477	560
May 26-30 2014	595	631	480	551
June 23-27 2014	594	629	483	535
July 21-25 2014	585	618	483	527
Aug 18-22 2014	586	607	476	516
Sept 15-19 2014	580	598	475	510
Oct 13-17 2014	583	599	477	508
Nov 10-14 2014	579	598	480	498
Dec 8-12 2014	570	591	481	483
Jan 5-9 2015	566	594	485	464
Feb 2-6 2015	569	597	488	473
Mar 2-6 2015	570	597	489	471
Mar 30-Apr 3 2015	569	598	491	462
Apr 27-May 1 2015	571	598	492	455
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Apr 28-May 2 2014	536	695	356	403
May 26-30 2014	559	702	356	407
June 23-27 2014	562	701	354	402
July 21-25 2014	562	683	345	394
Aug 18-22 2014	556	699	333	378
Sept 15-19 2014	554	693	329	377
Oct 13-17 2014	557	696	329	372
Nov 10-14 2014	559	720	336	368
Dec 8-12 2014	571	709	323	368
Jan 5-9 2015	577	707	323	364
Feb 2-6 2015	589	707	329	369
Mar 2-6 2015	626	706	331	371
Mar 30-Apr 3 2015	642	708	333	370
Apr 27-May 1 2015	652	711	332	371

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

(MZT/AG)

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