DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Retail Fertilizer Prices Mostly Flat

Russ Quinn
By  Russ Quinn , DTN Staff Reporter
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Retail urea prices increased $3/ton this week to $385/ton. Prices are 5.5% lower than at the same time last year. (DTN Chart)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer prices remain flat compared to last month, with the average price of all eight major fertilizers moving by $3/ton or less, according to prices tracked by DTN for the third week of April, 2020.

Six fertilizers were higher in price compared to last month, but none of them were up a significant amount, which DTN considers 5% or more. DAP has an average price of $410/ton, up $1; urea $385/ton, up $3; 10-34-0 $468/ton, up $2; anhydrous $492/ton, $1; UAN28 $236/ton, up $1; and UAN32 $279/ton, up $1.

The remaining two fertilizers had a slightly lower price with MAP averaging $433/ton, down $1, and potash $370/ton, down fractionally from last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Last week, we reported that Australian fertilizer manufacturer Incitec Pivot Ltd. Was pulling out a potential sale of its Asia Pacific fertilizer business amid uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have since learned there's perhaps yet another reason why the deal was called off.

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Morgan Stanley stated Incitec expects a better outlook for fertilizer demand, which has reduced risks to the company's balance sheet, Dow Jones reported. Not everything is positive for the company, however, as Morgan Stanley also pointed out the company's financial performance is higher than the company's peers.

"Upward movement in key fertilizer prices, an improved domestic season and lower Australian dollar/U.S. dollar provide some tailwinds for Incitec," said Morgan Stanley.

Retail fertilizers are now all lower in price from a year ago. Both DAP and MAP are 18% lower, anhydrous is 17% less expensive, UAN28 and UAN32 are both 12% lower, urea is 6% less expensive, potash is 5% lower and 10-34-0 is 3% less expensive from last year at this time.

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
Apr 22-26 2019 497 530 388 408
May 20-24 2019 497 527 392 428
Jun 17-21 2019 496 532 392 435
Jul 15-19, 2019 497 532 392 430
Aug 12-16 2019 493 503 387 413
Sep 9-13 2019 486 482 385 407
Oct 7-11, 2019 472 473 383 403
Nov 4-8 2019 462 471 384 396
Dec 2-6 2019 445 463 379 381
Dec 30-Jan 3 2020 438 446 376 363
Jan 27-31 2020 414 435 373 359
Feb 24-28 2020 409 434 371 366
Mar 23-27 2020 409 434 370 382
Apr 20-24 2020 410 433 370 385
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 22-26 2019 483 594 268 315
May 20-24 2019 487 595 270 314
Jun 17-21 2019 487 589 270 318
Jul 15-19, 2019 485 585 275 317
Aug 12-16 2019 475 543 258 295
Sep 9-13 2019 471 516 253 289
Oct 7-11, 2019 470 509 253 289
Nov 4-8 2019 473 499 249 289
Dec 2-6 2019 470 490 242 276
Dec 30-Jan 3 2020 470 487 238 273
Jan 27-31 2020 467 488 237 275
Feb 24-28 2020 466 490 235 277
Mar 23-27 2020 466 491 235 278
Apr 20-24 2020 468 492 236 279

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN

(KD/BAS)

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Russ Quinn