DTN Fertilizer Trends: More Muted Price Gains

While prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were higher at the end of April compared to a month earlier, none were significantly higher, which DTN designates as 5% or more. It’s the second week in a row prices showed more muted moves higher after several months of rising sharply.

For the fourth week of April 2021, DAP had an average price of $629/ton, MAP $703/ton and potash $433/ton, about a 1% increase in prices. Urea, at $513/ton, and 10-34-0, at $613/ton, were each up 2%. The average retail price of UAN28 increased 3% to $350/ton, while anhydrous and UAN32 were each up 4%, at $710/ton and $391/ton, respectively.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.56/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.61/lb.N.

Because of stronger market conditions, the Mosaic Co. reported that revenue rose $2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2021, which is an increase of 28% from the comparable period a year earlier. Both sales volumes of phosphates and potash were up in the quarter, Dow Jones reported.

“Grower economics in most global growing regions remain attractive as a result of strong crop demand, affordable inputs and favorable weather,” Mosaic said Monday.

The company reported an approximately $50 per metric ton improvement in profit margin in second quarter over the first one. This would be a $80 to $90/ton improvement in average realized prices, which are offset by $30 to $35 per finished product ton of higher raw material costs.

On its potash business, Mosaic said there are similar dynamics that continue to drive demand globally. The company expects to realize a $20 to $30 per ton improvement in average realized prices in the second quarter over the first quarter of 2021.

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago.

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Potash is now 17% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 31% higher, urea is 33% more expensive, UAN32 40% higher, anhydrous is 44% more expensive, UAN28 is 48% higher, DAP is 52% more expensive and MAP 62% is 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.

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN