News & Resources

DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

31 May 2023

OMAHA (DTN) -- According to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of May 2023, fertilizers are mostly higher. This is the first time since November of 2022 that more fertilizers were higher in price than lower compared to the prior month.

Five of the eight major fertilizers are higher in price compared to last month. Only one fertilizer was substantially more expensive. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Urea was 5% higher compared to the prior month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $623/ton.

Four other fertilizers were slightly more expensive looking back a month. DAP had an average price of $834/ton, MAP $832/ton, potash $624/ton and UAN32 $509/ton.

Three fertilizers were lower compared to a month ago. One fertilizer, anhydrous, was 14% less expensive with an average price of $798/ton, or $130/ton less than last month.

After dropping below $1,000/ton just five weeks ago, anhydrous fell below the $800/ton level for the first time since the fourth week of September 2021. That week the average anhydrous price was $782/ton.

Two fertilizers were just slightly less expensive compared to the prior month. 10-34-0 had an average price of $739/ton and UAN28 $419/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.68/lb.N, anhydrous $0.49/lb.N, UAN28 $0.75/lb.N and UAN32 $0.80/lb.N.

Verde AgriTech, a Singapore-based fertilizer manufacturer, has asked its shareholders to approve a proposal to ban sales of its product to farmers in certain areas of the Amazon rainforest, according to Dow Jones.

The company operates two plants in Brazil that manufacture a potassium-based fertilizer that the company says is better for the environment than potash. It expects the move to have little to no effect on the company's revenue, according to CEO Cristiano Veloso.

The proposed ban might instead inspire other companies to consider similar bans, Veloso said.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 19% less expensive, DAP is 21% lower, MAP is 23% less expensive, potash is 29%, UAN32 is 30% lower, UAN28 is 34% less expensive, urea is 37% less expensive and anhydrous is 48% lower compared to a year prior.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/….

The total number of fertilizer carloads by Class I railroads was at an all-time high in May of 2023. You can read it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Dry
Date Range DAP MAP POTASH UREA
May 23-27 2022 1056 1082 879 989
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022 1040 1058 885 902
Jul 18-22 2022 1007 1043 887 836
Aug 15-19 2022 978 1026 881 807
Sep 12-16 2022 952 1009 877 808
Oct 10-14 2022 925 986 863 824
Nov 7-11 2022 931 980 853 812
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022 920 950 819 784
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023 876 879 752 739
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023 847 862 704 698
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023 827 827 666 648
Mar 27-31 2023 818 810 644 626
Apr 24-28 2023 827 804 624 595
May 22-26 2023 834 832 624 623
Liquid
Date Range 10-34-0 ANHYD UAN28 UAN32
May 23-27 2022 906 1531 634 731
Jun 20-Jun 24 2022 905 1497 616 716
Jul 18-22 2022 894 1431 598 696
Aug 15-19 2022 878 1336 576 676
Sep 12-16 2022 861 1369 578 665
Oct 10-14 2022 759 1417 576 670
Nov 7-11 2022 758 1434 582 680
Dec 5-Dec 9 2022 751 1415 581 681
Jan 2-Jan 6 2023 754 1302 573 673
Jan 30-Feb 3 2023 754 1223 518 583
Feb 27-Mar 3 2023 741 1077 444 525
Mar 27-31 2023 741 1026 428 513
Apr 24-28 2023 740 928 426 508
May 22-26 2023 739 798 419 509

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @RussQuinnDTN