Fert becomes global
TERRA NITROGEN‘s planned acquisition of USA-based Mississippi Chemical Corporation early in 2005 reinforces the fact that the fertiliser market is becoming increasingly global.
At roughly the same time Kemira hopes to float GrowHow as an independent company, leaving the parent company to concentrate on water treatment, coatings and other chemicals.
It would seem logical for this new company to acquire partners in the process to achieve greater scale.
This will mean that the market is dominated by companies whose core business is fertiliser which should allow greater freedom to innovate and invest.
Despite this, the market will continue to be irrevocably linked to energy prices, particularly gas, which ultimately determine the farm gate price.
Nitrogen (Domestic) N (SP5) 34.5% | New season | Imported urea. | Imported AN Georgian | Blended | Blended | Liquid | |||||||||||
October £133 | £140
| Would be £175 but no market yet | £125-£128 | £130 | From £126 | No market yet | |||||||||||
NPK | August | Imported 27.6.6 | Imported | |||||||||
Complex 25.5.5 | £133 | £138 | £125-£128 | |||||||||
15.15.20 | £157 |
| ||||||||||
20.10.10/ 27.5.5 | £137 |
| ||||||||||
17.17.17 | £162 |
| ||||||||||
| Trace elements | 0.24.24 | TSP (47%P2O5) | Muriate of Potash (60%K2O) |
| Copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt Iodine and sodium Per acre pack £11.10 | Blended £128 | £142 | £129 |
Ireland
Benchmark prices. Compounds out of season.
Northern | Urea, existing stocks only | CAN | 24.6.12 aftercut | 25.5.5
| Complex compounds |
| £155-£160 | £130-£134 | £160 (anticipated) | £150-£152 | £160-£162 |
Republic of | CAN, large price variations | 24.2½.10 blend | Urea | 27. 2.5 . 5 | |
| €195 | €190-210 (Russian) €225-240 | €200-250 (dependant on source and quality) | €243 (CCF) €200 import blend | |
*Note in the Republic of Ireland nutrients are expressed as elements not oxides. Analyses will not be directly comparable with those used in the UK.
Note All illustrated prices are based upon 24 tonne loads for immediate payment. Prices for smaller loads and those with credit terms will vary considerably.
Source: Bridgewater
