Menu

Nitrogen price rise likely next week

- 24 August 2001
>More in


By Roger Chesher


NITROGEN business has now slowed considerably and the August price, due to close on Friday (24), has been allowed to run for slightly longer than expected.

The September price should come into play next week and it will almost certainly incorporate a rise of 2/tonne.

While imported granular urea sales have been brisk, sales of imported ammonium nitrate are not widely mentioned, apart from the de-stocking “sale” of older material previously reported.

But sales of domestic AN have been very good, ahead of last year, indicating confidence that prices will rise, and possibly increased volume for the season.

Grassland NPKs are selling steadily, picking up on the disastrous end of the last fertiliser season, which runs from July to June each year.

New prices for this compound sector are not expected until October.

The autumn PK market is becoming busier, but is said to be more spread out than usual.

It could be that more farmers are turning towards spring applied NPK, a trend encouraged by both Kemira and Hydro with “M24” and “Incrop” products, or growers may be taking a PK “holiday”.

0.24.24 has been trading as low as 108/t on farm, but the trend is upwards as blenders strive to achieve a reasonable margin.

Expect to pay around 112/t from now on, and add 10/t for five units of nitrogen.


CURRENT PRICES


















New-season nitrogen (SP5) 34.5%
September domestic nitrogen
Imported urea
Imported AN
Blended 20.10.10 and 25.0.16
Blended 25.5.5		 Liquid nitrogen, 37kg/100l or 29.6% N/t


August 110-112

112-114

Granular 115-120
88 ex-dock
94-98 delivered
113-115
107-113
120



















NPK
August, pay cash
NS products

Complex 25.5.5
112-118
110-112

15.15.20
No market

20.10.10/29.5.5
118-120

17.17.17
No market













After-cut NK cash
0.24.24
TSP (47% P2O5) bagged
Muriate of Potash (60% K2O) bagged

118
112-114
125
122

 

IRELAND

Forecast prices
















 
Urea

CAN


24.6.12


0.16.36


Complex compounds
27.6.6


Northern Ireland
No market
110
130-135
No market
130















 

CAN

24.21/2.10

Urea, imported

27.21/2.5

Republic of Ireland*
140-145
175
No market
170-175

*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.

*Prices in the Republic are IR

  • IR1=UK80.19p; US$1=UK69.34p on 24 August

     

    Note All illustrated prices are based on 24-tonne loads for immediate payment. Prices for smaller loads and those with credit terms will vary considerably.

    Source: Bridgewater Partnership

    • See more