DELIVERIES of domestic nitrogen ordered up to and including those at the November price are now proceeding rapidly.

Product at the December price (£165/t delivered farm) is still available for order, although the long shut down recently started at Kemira GrowHow will eventually have an impact on availability.

Wisely, it is taking place at a time when energy prices approach their peak. With autumn plantings underway, interest in fertiliser business on farm is slow.

However, significant tonnages of imported fertiliser are being taken up at merchant level.

Some optimism is starting to appear in the trade that the volume of land under tillage will appear large enough to stimulate an attractive spring fertiliser market.

This may not be particularly heartening for farmers, though, as brisk demand places pressure on supply and maintains higher prices.

Once again it seems clear that the early buyer will emerge rewarded.

There are still no clear indications of compound fertiliser prices, as Kemira GrowHow and Yara hold back their new terms. In general, therefore, prices this week remain largely unchanged.

The arrival of imported nitrogen should enable blenders to remain competitive in the compound market although higher P and K prices will start to feed through.

Changes in dairy politics coupled with advances in agronomy such as whole crop and maize production mean that prospects for fertilisers in this sector are very hard to determine this season.

CURRENT PRICES (£/t)

Great Britain

Ireland

†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.
*Known as 24.2½.10 blend in the Republic of Ireland
**Known as 27.2½.5 in ROI

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