News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

3 Apr 2024

OMAHA (DTN) -- Retailers tracked by DTN for the fourth week of March 2024 show all eight major fertilizer prices are higher compared to last month. This marks the second time all fertilizers have been higher this winter/early spring.

Two fertilizers continue to be up a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 8% more expensive compared to last month and had an average price of $576/ton. UAN28 was 5% higher in price looking back a month and had an average price of $360/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers were slightly more expensive compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $779/ton, MAP $827/ton, potash $513/ton, 10-34-0 $632/ton, anhydrous $794/ton and UAN32 $404/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.63/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.63/lb.N.

Fertilizer analysts believe there could be some UAN supply disruptions this spring with the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. This, in turn, could lead to higher prices. DTN wrote about this subject last week (https://www.dtnpf.com/…).

The Port of Baltimore handles about 10% of the annual UAN imports to the United States, mostly from Russia, according to Chris Lawson, head of fertilizer for consulting firm CRU. Few other nutrients are imported to Baltimore Harbor, he said.

Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer for StoneX Group Inc., said how long the port is closed will have a large effect on what happens to the UAN market.

If investigators take a long time and leave the port closed, this could lead to some UAN shortages and higher prices. If they streamline the process and open up the port soon, then there could be little impact on the UAN market, he said.

No one really knows at this time, Linville said.

For more DTN coverage on the impact on agriculture from the bridge collapse in Baltimore, see the following articles:

"Tragedy Strikes Baltimore as Ship Crashes into Francis Scott Key Bridge,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

"Baltimore Bridge Collapse Could Affect Farm Machinery Shipments,"

https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Recent legislation in the U.S. Senate to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals was a positive sign, according to The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

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

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
Mar 27-31 2023 818 810 644 626
Apr 24-28 2023 827 804 624 595
May 22-26 2023 834 832 624 623
June 19-23 2023 825 827 618 619
July 17-21 2023 807 812 608 596
Aug 14-18 2023 745 762 558 573
Sep 11-15 2023 710 742 500 554
Oct 9-13 2023 711 794 506 575
Nov 6-10 2023 714 802 509 573
Dec 4-8 2023 713 820 516 543
Jan 1-5 2024 725 812 513 534
Jan 29-Feb 2 2024 735 809 509 527
Feb 26-Mar 1 2024 756 812 505 536
Mar 25-29 2024 779 827 513 576
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
Mar 27-31 2023 741 1026 428 513
Apr 24-28 2023 740 928 426 508
May 22-26 2023 739 798 419 509
June 19-23 2023 734 755 402 471
July 17-21 2023 717 713 385 457
Aug 14-18 2023 705 630 359 399
Sep 11-15 2023 600 696 353 389
Oct 9-13 2023 613 804 356 418
Nov 6-10 2023 613 830 360 415
Dec 4-8 2023 595 847 340 409
Jan 1-5 2024 599 789 336 394
Jan 29-Feb 2 2024 610 770 334 390
Feb 26-Mar 1 2024 615 769 341 394
Mar 25-29 2024 632 794 360 404

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

Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RussQuinnDTN.