By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- Average retail prices for the majority of fertilizers continued to move slightly higher at the beginning of May 2018. But, in the last two weeks, prices for multiple fertilizers were lower, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.
Two of the eight major fertilizers, MAP and urea, were slightly lower compared to the previous month. MAP had an average price of $505 per ton and urea $368 per ton.
The remaining six fertilizers were again higher in price than they were last month, although the moves were small. DAP had an average price of $485 per ton, potash $353/ton, 10-34-0 $431/ton, anhydrous $510/ton, UAN28 $241/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.
Dow Jones reported on Monday that fertilizer manufacturer Mosaic reported first-quarter 2018 net earnings of $42 million thanks to higher prices for its crop nutrients. However, the company said its earnings took a hit with issues related to poor weather and logistics. Higher retail prices for phosphate and potash boosted the company's net sales, but the benefits were partially offset by lower sales volumes due to delays in the start of the planting season in the U.S. and rail troubles in Canada.
Mosaic reported earnings per share of $0.11 on revenue of $1.9 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuter had expected $0.28 cent in per-share earnings on $1.8 billion in revenue.
"Delays in new fertilizer supply coming to market, as well as strong demand and improving farm economics bode well," Joc O'Rouke, Mosaic's CEO, said, according to Dow Jones.
Five of the eight major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Anhydrous is now up 1%, potash is 4% higher, urea is 5% higher, MAP is 8% more expensive and DAP is 11% higher compared to last year.
The remaining three fertilizers are lower in price compared to a year prior. Both 10-34-0 and UAN32 are 1% lower while UAN28 is 2% less expensive looking back a year.
DTN collects roughly 1,700 retail fertilizer bids from 310 retailer locations weekly. Not all fertilizer prices change each week. Prices are subject to change at any time.
DTN Pro Grains subscribers can find current retail fertilizer price in the DTN Fertilizer Index on the Fertilizer page under Farm Business.
Retail fertilizer charts dating back to 2010 are available in the DTN fertilizer segment. The charts included cost of N/lb., DAP, MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.
DTN's average of retail fertilizer prices from a month earlier ($ per ton):
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| May 1-5 2017 | 436 | 466 | 339 | 351 |
| May 29-Jun 2 2017 | 436 | 471 | 340 | 339 |
| Jun 26-30 2017 | 437 | 470 | 340 | 333 |
| Jul 24-28 2017 | 434 | 462 | 338 | 308 |
| Aug 21-25 2017 | 434 | 458 | 338 | 304 |
| Sep 18-22 2017 | 429 | 452 | 345 | 312 |
| Oct 16-20 2017 | 432 | 452 | 348 | 340 |
| Nov 13-17 2017 | 435 | 459 | 342 | 339 |
| Dec 11-15 2017 | 439 | 479 | 343 | 340 |
| Jan 8-12 2018 | 456 | 491 | 346 | 352 |
| Feb 5-9 2018 | 458 | 493 | 344 | 355 |
| Mar 5-9 2018 | 463 | 503 | 349 | 367 |
| Apr 2-6 2018 | 478 | 508 | 352 | 370 |
| Apr 30-May 4 2018 | 485 | 505 | 353 | 368 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| May 1-5 2017 | 436 | 508 | 247 | 280 |
| May 29-Jun 2 2017 | 436 | 503 | 248 | 280 |
| Jun 26-30 2017 | 435 | 484 | 238 | 268 |
| Jul 24-28 2017 | 425 | 423 | 229 | 265 |
| Aug 21-25 2017 | 419 | 417 | 216 | 248 |
| Sep 18-22 2017 | 416 | 402 | 211 | 248 |
| Oct 16-20 2017 | 413 | 397 | 205 | 262 |
| Nov 13-17 2017 | 403 | 410 | 216 | 272 |
| Dec 11-15 2017 | 403 | 434 | 218 | 256 |
| Jan 8-12 2018 | 410 | 479 | 220 | 258 |
| Feb 5-9 2018 | 415 | 492 | 227 | 261 |
| Mar 5-9 2018 | 422 | 499 | 234 | 272 |
| Apr 2-6 2018 | 425 | 508 | 239 | 274 |
| Apr 30-May 4 2018 | 431 | 510 | 241 | 277 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow Russ Quinn on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(AG/BAS)
© Copyright 2018 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.