Fert prices will stay high
FARMER BUYING groups in southern England are settling business for aftercut NKs at £136-140/t, but, otherwise, fertiliser trade remains sluggish.
The pattern of buying grassland fertiliser only when immediately required is clearly continuing, suppressing any incentive to import more fertiliser.
Modest amounts of imported 32.5.0 are available at £136-140/t with Bulgarian and Lithuanian AN still priced around £140/t, where available.
A few tonnes of imported granular urea are still being sold around £165/t, which compares favourably to the frighteningly high cost of replacement stock at £194/t.
Even with their slightly cheaper energy costs, producers in western Europe do not offer much hope for lower nitrogen pricing.
So, farmers who are waiting to purchase nitrogen until June/July in the hope of paying £115/t are likely to be disappointed by prices at least £15 higher than that.
This puts tremendous pressure on home fertiliser producers and farmers who must weather the storm for two more years until there is some respite from the gas supply crisis.
When regular weekly reporting of fertiliser pricing first started on FWi in 1999, UK produced ammonium nitrate was £87/t.
It is highly unlikely ever to fall below £100/t again.
CURRENT PRICES (£/t)
Great Britain
Straight | |
Domestic N (34.5%N) SP5 | Apr £149-151 |
Imported AN Lithuanian & Bulgarian | £138-142 where available |
Imported urea | £194 granular |
Liquid UAN | £142 |
TSP (47%P2O5) | £145 |
Muriate of Potash(60%K2O) | £133 |
Compound | ||
| Complex | Blended |
25.5.5 | £148-150 | From £140 |
15.15.20 | £164-168 |
|
20.10.10 / 27.5.5 | £150-152 | From £142 |
17.17.17 | £169-173 |
|
Aftercuts NK |
| £136 |
27.6.6 (imported) |
|
|
32.5.0 (imported) |
| £136-138 |
Trace elements | Copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt Iodine and sodium £11.10/acre pack |
Ireland
| Northern | Republic |
Urea | £200 (existing stocks only) | €270-280 (dependant on source and quality) |
| CAN | £140-145 | €200-210 |
24.6.12 | £170-175 (anticipated) | €240-250+ |
25.5.5 | £160-165 |
|
27.6.6 | £170-175 | €247-250+ (CCF) |
†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
