Fertilizer Prices Mainly Lower

By Russ Quinn

Retail fertilizer sellers tracked by DTN for the second week of November 2022 continue to show prices floating around slightly higher and slightly lower.

Five fertilizers were marginally lower compared to last month while the remaining three were somewhat higher. No fertilizer was substantially higher or lower; DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

The five slightly lower were MAP, potash, urea, 10-34-0 and anhydrous. MAP had an average price of $978/ton, potash $848/ton, urea $812/ton, 10-34-0 $753/ton and anhydrous $1,415/ton.

The other three fertilizers were slightly more expensive looking back to last month. DAP had an average price of $930/ton, UAN28 $584/ton and UAN32 $681/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.88/lb.N, anhydrous $0.86/lb.N, UAN28 $1.04/lb.N and UAN32 $1.06/lb.N.

In a recent press release, Yara International called on European Union governments to take action to assure the supply of nitrogen both for fertilizer and nonfertilizer uses. The fertilizer giant said AdBlue, which is produced in the same plants that manufacture fertilizer, is essential for a functioning transportation sector with more than 29 million vehicles in Europe requiring this product.

"Continuous and undisrupted supply of AdBlue is vital. Clean air to breath and a functioning transport sector are fundamental for society," said Jorge Noval, president of Yara International Solutions. "Fertilizer and food supplies, pharmaceutical and hospital supplies -- they all rely on AdBlue."

Yara said the E.U.'s package of solutions for the European fertilizer industry should include two main points.

First, the E.U. needs to secure continued access to natural gas for fertilizer plants. Natural gas is the raw material for fertilizer plants needed to keep production running.

Secondly, Yara wants the E.U. to reinforce Europe's strategic autonomy. European authorities should prioritize the supply of raw materials for European nitrogen production to avoid increased carbon emissions and prevent new dependencies, according to Yara.

A recent study from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls for improved access to fertilizer across the world to avert a looming food crisis, according to a WTO press release. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/… .