News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

9 Nov 2022
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OMAHA (DTN) -- The average retail price of most fertilizers continues to trend downward, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the end of October and early November 2022.

Only one fertilizer was up or down significantly, which was 10-34-0. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

10-34-0 was 7% lower compared to the prior month. The starter fertilizer had an average price of $759/ton.

Four other fertilizers were just slightly lower. DAP had an average price of $930/ton, MAP $981/ton, potash $857/ton and urea $826/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly more expensive than at this time last year. Anhydrous had an average price of $1,426/ton, UAN28 $583/ton and UAN32 $680/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.90/lb.N, anhydrous $0.87/lb.N, UAN28 $1.04/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) send a letter to Congressional leadership on Monday urging Congress to act to prevent a potential rail strike, which would result in fertilizer and fertilizer inputs being embargoed roughly five days prior to the strike, according to a TFI press release.

"We warned that the U.S. couldn't afford a rail strike in September, and this still remains true today," TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. "The movement of fertilizer is greatly dependent on rail throughout the year. A rail strike would be devastating to fertilizer manufacturing and to fertilizer distribution to the farmers, who need it to grow the food on which the world depends." You can read the entire letter here: https://www.thefencepost.com/….

A potential strike was avoided, but a strike could begin as soon as Nov. 19 unless the "status quo" period is extended, TFI said. If an agreement is not reached or if the "status quo" period cannot be extended, Congress would need to act to prevent an embargo on fertilizer shipments that could begin as soon as Nov. 14.

The situation is compounded by continuing logistical and supply chain disruptions that remain unsolved.

"Congress must act and they must act immediately upon its return on Nov. 14," he said. "A rail stoppage is going to exacerbate inflation and hit U.S. consumers right before the holidays. Congress can avert this disaster, and they must do so quickly."

For more background on the potential rail strike and its impact beyond the fertilizer market, please read "Rail Shippers Fear a Strike is Near" here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Despite lower prices in recent months, all fertilizers continue to higher in price than one year earlier.

Urea is 1% higher, UAN28 is 7% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 8% higher, MAP is 9% more expensive, UAN32 is 13% higher, both DAP and potash are 14% more expensive and anhydrous is 28% more expensive compared to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

European fertilizer manufacturers are restarting fertilizer production on the continent due to the recent sharp drop in natural gas prices, according to Dow Jones. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Nov 1-5 2021 814 900 750 820
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 836 918 777 873
Dec 27-31 2021 864 931 809 911
Jan 24-28 2022 877 936 814 910
Feb 21-25 2022 874 934 815 885
Mar 21-25 2022 1014 1018 850 976
Apr 18-22 2022 1050 1079 879 1012
May 16-20 2022 1059 1083 878 993
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 1046 1074 879 961
Jul 11-15 2022 1030 1052 885 861
Aug 8-12 2022 982 1032 881 812
Sep 5-9 2022 952 1009 878 800
Oct 3-7 2022 934 997 869 826
Oct 31-Nov 4 2022 930 981 857 826
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Nov 1-5 2021 702 1113 545 604
Nov 29-Dec 3 2021 756 1313 575 661
Dec 27-31 2021 795 1428 583 679
Jan 24-28 2022 817 1492 601 699
Feb 21-25 2022 837 1488 602 703
Mar 21-25 2022 881 1523 622 698
Apr 18-22 2022 906 1534 631 730
May 16-20 2022 906 1529 634 731
Jun 13-Jun 17 2022 905 1516 630 730
Jul 11-15 2022 904 1449 606 701
Aug 8-12 2022 881 1365 578 678
Sep 5-9 2022 866 1357 579 658
Oct 3-7 2022 813 1390 565 652
Oct 31-Nov 4 2022 759 1426 583 680

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

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN