By Todd Neeley
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Prices for the eight major fertilizers appear to be stabilizing as only UAN32 and urea showed increases the fourth week of October 2017 compared to one month earlier, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.
UAN32 led the way with an average price increase of about 8% to $262 per ton. The average price of urea came in 1% higher at around $325/ton.
The average prices of three fertilizers dropped. Anhydrous, 10-34-0 and UAN28 all saw 1% drops, at $393/ton, $407/ton and $205/ton, respectively.
The prices for MAP, DAP and potash remained virtually unchanged at $453, $431 and $347 per ton, respectively.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.35/lb.N, anhydrous $0.24/lb.N, UAN28 $0.37/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.
Four of the eight major retail fertilizers are now lower compared to one year earlier. Two of the four are double digits lower. Anhydrous is now 17% lower from a year ago, while 10-34-0 is 10% less expensive and UAN28 is 8% lower. UAN32 and MAP remain unchanged, while potash and urea are higher by 11% and 3%, respectively.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| Oct 24-28 2016 | 436 | 451 | 313 | 317 |
| Nov 21-25 2016 | 436 | 445 | 316 | 328 |
| Dec 19-23 2016 | 432 | 437 | 321 | 336 |
| Jan 16-20 2017 | 430 | 443 | 324 | 346 |
| Feb 13-17 2017 | 432 | 450 | 332 | 357 |
| Mar 13-17 2017 | 443 | 462 | 337 | 360 |
| Apr 10-13 2017 | 437 | 466 | 338 | 353 |
| May 8-12 2017 | 437 | 466 | 340 | 351 |
| Jun 5-9 2017 | 438 | 469 | 339 | 338 |
| Jul 3-7 2017 | 436 | 467 | 339 | 325 |
| Jul 31-Aug 4 2017 | 434 | 463 | 339 | 311 |
| Aug 28-Sept 1 2017 | 433 | 457 | 338 | 303 |
| Sep 15-29 2017 | 432 | 453 | 348 | 321 |
| Oct 23-27 2017 | 431 | 453 | 347 | 325 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| Oct 24-28 2016 | 452 | 472 | 224 | 262 |
| Nov 21-25 2016 | 445 | 465 | 218 | 256 |
| Dec 19-23 2016 | 442 | 468 | 217 | 255 |
| Jan 16-20 2017 | 437 | 478 | 235 | 267 |
| Feb 13-17 2017 | 440 | 491 | 240 | 276 |
| Mar 13-17 2017 | 441 | 507 | 247 | 280 |
| Apr 10-13 2017 | 441 | 505 | 247 | 280 |
| May 8-12 2017 | 437 | 508 | 247 | 280 |
| Jun 5-9 2017 | 435 | 503 | 246 | 278 |
| Jul 3-7 2017 | 432 | 462 | 236 | 268 |
| Jul 31-Aug 4 2017 | 426 | 418 | 227 | 262 |
| Aug 28-Sept 1 2017 | 418 | 417 | 215 | 248 |
| Sep 15-29 2017 | 413 | 396 | 208 | 243 |
| Oct 23-27 2017 | 407 | 393 | 205 | 262 |
Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @toddneeleyDTN
(AG/SK)
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