By Russ Quinn
DTN Staff Reporter
OMAHA (DTN) -- For the first time in several months, retail fertilizer prices appear to be softening somewhat. Prices for half of the eight major fertilizers were slightly lower the fourth week of February 2019 compared to the previous month, according to fertilizer sellers surveyed by DTN.
However, although prices for half of fertilizers were down, none were significantly lower. DAP had an average price of $511 per ton, MAP $535/ton, urea $404/ton and UAN28 $270/ton.
The remaining fertilizers were slightly higher compared to the prior month. Potash had an average price of $386/ton, 10-34-0 $470/ton, anhydrous $596/ton and UAN32 $318/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.
The fertilizer industry operates in a global market, and U.S.-based fertilizer companies have moved, in recent years, to expand into other areas of the world. One such company is The Mosaic Company.
The company is seeing huge benefits after acquiring Vale Fertilizantes, a Brazilian fertilizer company, last year. Mosaic saw an 86% jump in fourth-quarter sales in 2018 compared to year-ago levels, according to Dow Jones news service.
The bump from Brazil helped to counter less-positive performance for the fertilizer company. This included a decline in the company's phosphate sales volumes, which dropped because of an idled Florida plant and poor fall weather in North America limiting farmers' fall fertilizer applications, according to the company.
The good news in Brazil is expected to continue for the company. Mosaic CEO Joc O'Rourke cited "accelerated synergy capture" between Mosaic and Vale Fertilizantes.
All eight of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices rising. MAP is 8% more expensive, both DAP and potash are 11% higher, urea is 12% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 13% higher, UAN32 is 14% more expensive, UAN28 is 16% higher and anhydrous is now 20% more expensive 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.
| DRY |
| Date Range | DAP | MAP | POTASH | UREA |
| Feb 26-Mar 2 2018 | 461 | 497 | 346 | 361 |
| Mar 26-30 2018 | 470 | 506 | 350 | 370 |
| Apr 23-27 2018 | 485 | 504 | 353 | 367 |
| May 21-25 2018 | 483 | 504 | 354 | 364 |
| Jun 18-22 2018 | 485 | 505 | 354 | 364 |
| Jul 16-20 2018 | 486 | 505 | 354 | 366 |
| Aug 13-17 2018 | 487 | 508 | 356 | 363 |
| Sep 10-14 2018 | 491 | 518 | 362 | 380 |
| Oct 8-12 2018 | 501 | 523 | 365 | 393 |
| Nov 5-9 2018 | 506 | 529 | 368 | 407 |
| Dec 3-7 2018 | 501 | 529 | 369 | 410 |
| Dec 31-Jan 4 2019 | 508 | 533 | 381 | 407 |
| Jan 28-Feb 1 2019 | 513 | 536 | 384 | 407 |
| Feb 25-Mar 01 2019 | 511 | 535 | 386 | 404 |
| LIQUID |
| Date Range | 10-34-0 | ANHYD | UAN28 | UAN32 |
| Feb 26-Mar 2 2018 | 416 | 496 | 233 | 279 |
| Mar 26-30 2018 | 425 | 507 | 237 | 272 |
| Apr 23-27 2018 | 431 | 507 | 241 | 277 |
| May 21-25 2018 | 439 | 504 | 241 | 276 |
| Jun 18-22 2018 | 440 | 503 | 242 | 277 |
| Jul 16-20 2018 | 442 | 503 | 243 | 279 |
| Aug 13-17 2018 | 446 | 481 | 233 | 271 |
| Sep 10-14 2018 | 449 | 487 | 238 | 278 |
| Oct 8-12 2018 | 452 | 488 | 238 | 280 |
| Nov 5-9 2018 | 458 | 517 | 245 | 287 |
| Dec 3-7 2018 | 457 | 524 | 249 | 293 |
| Dec 31-Jan 4 2019 | 460 | 571 | 267 | 304 |
| Jan 28-Feb 1 2019 | 468 | 585 | 271 | 313 |
| Feb 25-Mar 01 2019 | 470 | 596 | 270 | 318 |
Russ Quinn can be reached at russ.quinn@dtn.com
Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN
(AG/SK)
© Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.