DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

OMAHA (DTN) -- Fertilizer prices continue their slow move higher, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the third week of February 2015.

Seven of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to a month earlier, but none of the seven were up any significant amount. DAP had an average price of $568 per ton, MAP $597/ton, potash $495/ton and urea $472/ton. 10-34-0 had an average price of $593/ton, UAN28 $330/ton and UAN32 $370/ton.

One fertilizer, anhydrous, posted a price just slightly lower than a month ago. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $706/ton

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.51/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.59/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

Transportation woes have had a direct effect on retail fertilizer prices since last winter when massive shipping delays pushed prices higher and some farmers in the Northern Plains couldn't meet their fertilizer needs. Mother Nature delayed spring work, which lessened the potential problem.

Delays in transportation threatened again this winter, in the form of a possible Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway workers strike. The Canadian government, however, last week introduced legislation to force an end to the strike, the AP reported.

The CP is a major shipper along the Canada/U.S. border and the movement of fertilizer and grain could have been severely affected with a strike of the 3,000 CP workers. The Canadian government said the rail strike posed a threat to the economy when ordering its end.

This isn't the first time the Canadian government put an end to a strike involving railroads, according to the AP. In 2012, the government passed legislation to end a nine-day railway strike.

"It was estimated then a prolonged strike would cost the Canadian economy $540 million a week and halt shipments of grain, fertilizer, coal, cars and other goods," the AP article stated.

Three of the eight major fertilizers are now double digits higher in price compared to February of 2014, all while commodity prices are significantly lower than a year ago. 10-34-0 is 16% higher while anhydrous is 14% more expensive and MAP is 13 more compared to year earlier.

DAP is now 6% more expensive and potash is 5% more expensive compared to a year earlier.

Three nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. UAN28 is down 3% while UAN32 is now 5% less expensive and urea is 9% less expensive from a year previous.

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 of 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
Feb 17-21 2014	537	530	472	519
Mar 17-21 2014	565	586	475	538
Apr 14-18 2014	586	617	475	552
May 12-16 2014	594	630	479	554
June 9-13 2014	594	630	482	541
July 7-11 2014	590	621	483	531
Aug 4-8 2014	589	609	474	518
Sept 1-5 2014	581	599	475	517
Sept 29-Oct 3 2014	579	599	478	514
Oct 27-31 2014	579	598	478	503
Nov 24-28 2014	576	595	480	492
Dec 22-26 2014	566	593	485	462
Jan 19-23 2015	568	596	487	469
Feb 16-20 2015	568	597	495	472
LIQUID
Date Range	10-34-0	ANHYD	UAN28	UAN32
Feb 17-21 2014	509	620	341	387
Mar 17-21 2014	517	630	348	392
Apr 14-18 2014	525	685	355	401
May 12-16 2014	552	699	355	406
June 9-13 2014	562	703	357	404
July 7-11 2014	561	686	348	399
Aug 4-8 2014	556	686	337	378
Sept 1-5 2014	555	683	330	377
Sept 29-Oct 3 2014	556	695	328	374
Oct 27-31 2014	558	701	327	373
Nov 24-28 2014	564	712	323	368
Dec 22-26 2014	573	706	320	362
Jan 19-23 2015	585	707	326	367
Feb 16-20 2015	593	706	330	370

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

(AG/CZ)

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