News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

20 Apr 2016

By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retail fertilizer price trends show no clear pattern as corn planting begins, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of April 2016.

Prices for four fertilizers edged higher while the other four fertilizers slipped compared to last month, but none moved by any significance. DAP averaged $480 per ton, MAP $504/ton, anhydrous $587/ton and UAN32 $318/ton.

The remaining four fertilizers were down a small amount compared to the month before. Potash averaged $367/ton, urea $388/ton, 10-34-0 $560/ton and UAN28 $273/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

Although the price collapse that started last summer has cooled in recent weeks, fertilizers remain lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double digits lower.

10-34-0, urea and UAN32 were all 14% lower compared to a year earlier while DAP and MAP are both 16% less expensive. In addition, anhydrous is 17% lower, UAN28 is 18% less expensive and potash is 25% lower compared to 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 13-17 2015 570 598 491 453
May 11-15 2015 570 598 491 457
June 8-12 2015 571 598 491 461
July 6-10 2015 570 596 489 470
Aug 3-7 2015 567 591 482 464
Aug 31-Sept 4 2015 564 583 471 439
Sept 28-Oct 2 2015 561 573 450 424
Oct 26-30 2015 546 562 431 409
Nov 23-27 2015 543 556 422 397
Dec 21-25 2015 519 541 408 390
Jan 18-22 2016 495 520 392 381
Feb 15-19 2016 477 496 375 370
Mar 14-18 2016 477 499 369 390
Apr 11-15 2016 480 504 367 388
LIQUID
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Apr 13-17 2015 649 711 332 370
May 11-15 2015 653 711 331 371
June 8-12 2015 649 709 331 371
July 6-10 2015 640 695 327 366
Aug 3-7 2015 628 677 318 354
Aug 31-Sept 4 2015 602 659 304 349
Sept 28-Oct 2 2015 594 644 295 342
Oct 26-30 2015 583 638 292 334
Nov 23-27 2015 580 624 286 325
Dec 21-25 2015 571 608 277 330
Jan 18-22 2016 571 581 272 319
Feb 15-19 2016 565 538 259 309
Mar 14-18 2016 560 566 276 312
Apr 11-15 2016 560 587 273 318

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

(MZT/AG)