Ammonium sulphate: International market trend of ammonium sulphate in the first week of March 2019
Source: Zhongyu Information Date: 2019-3-8 14:14:44
2.28-3.7 International Market Trends (from foreign sources)
Although global urea prices have fallen, ammonium sulfate prices have remained firm in the past few weeks. Europe’s demand is good, while Mexico plans to buy about 200,000 tons of products in March. Although the demand in the off-season from Turkey and Brazil was lower than expected, the export price stabilized the price of ammonium sulfate in April.
Mexico: Mexico’s demand continues to be of interest to the global market, and there are many inquiries about March/April shipments to the East and West Coast this week. According to reports, Samsung has sold two batches of 30,000 tons of goods from South Korea so far, and it is expected to be shipped in March or April. One of the goods shipped to Issa has arrived. The price is about $120/ton FOB Korea. European suppliers plan to ship 50,000-60 tons of cargo in March/April. The West Coast price index is mid-high at $140/ton cfr, and the East Coast price index is at mid-high at $150/ton. Demand for imported ammonium sulphate in Mexico may increase again this year, depending on how much ammonia the Mexican national oil company can provide to local ammonium sulphate producers.
United States: Due to too much precipitation this year, the continuous bad weather has caused the fat products to rarely flow to the farm. The demand peak in a few years is a little later than in previous years. Fibrant offers extruded granular ammonium sulphate shipping, and the March/April Nola FOB price is $210/ton. The previous sales price was $205/ton FOB, equivalent to $220-221/ton cfr Nola.
Northwest Europe: Producers across Europe are satisfied with the March sales, especially the sales of granular ammonium sulphate. As the weather conditions improve, the demand for compound fertilizer has increased in the past week. By the second half of April, demand will begin to decrease. The inland CIF price of the granular 2mm grade is about 190 Euro/ton. OCI offers a 3mm grade inland CIF of about 220 Euro/ton. This week, 25,000 tons of granular ammonium sulphate imported from China by Amoropa was loaded in Longkou and is ready for shipment to Laparis, France. The ship will arrive in France in the second half of April. According to reports, the purchase price is about 150 US dollars / ton FOB, the freight is estimated to be around 30 US dollars / ton. The ammonium sulfate rate in China is 6.5% in the EU.
Turkey: Demand for ammonium sulphate is very low this week. Lower urea prices are expected to cause some buyers to abandon the purchase of ammonium sulfate during the quarter. According to GTT data, Turkey imported 61,310 tons in January 2019, 35% higher than the 45,359 tons in January 2018. In January, it imported 31,000 tons from the United States, 15,000 tons from China, and 15,000 tons from Ukraine.
Egypt: After Alexfert sold to multiple destinations in Europe, the granular ammonium sulphate was basically determined in March. According to GTT data, export statistics from January to November 2018 show that Egypt’s total exports in the first 11 months of this year were 106,744 tons, an increase of nearly 18% from 90,621 tons in the first 11 months of 2017. Major exports (in parentheses the previous year): Israel 31,000 tons (0), Greece 29,000 tons (22,000 tons), Italy 19,000 tons (23,000 tons), Romania 13,000 tons (23,000 tons), Bulgaria 9000 tons (12,000 tons) and Georgia 4000 tons (0).
Morocco: Enquiries for standard grades of ammonium sulphate of approximately 6-7 000 tonnes are in progress and will be shipped in March/April. The offer is 105-110 euros / ton fob NW Europe.
China: With the increase in demand for caprolactam-grade products in the Brazilian market, the price of domestic coking grade products has risen. The price of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate shipped in March was $110-112/tonne, and some producers offered FOBs at $112-113/tonne. There are reports this week that as buyers enter the market to buy goods in March and April, demand in Southeast Asia continues to grow, which also supports China’s export prices. According to reports, the southern coking grade product is 500 yuan / ton, equivalent to 75 US dollars / ton.
Exports rose in January due to strong sales in Brazil: GTT data showed that in January 2019, China’s exports increased by 19%, from 513,340 tons in January 2018 to 608,896 tons. Exports to Brazil account for more than a quarter of China’s total exports, which is 160,000 tons, more than three times that of 59,000 tons a year ago. The main exports include (in the previous year’s brackets): Turkey 99,000 tons (7.9 million tons), Lithuania 57,000 tons (7000 tons), Indonesia 48,000 tons (102.000 tons)
Japan: According to GTT data, in January 2019, Japan exported 31,025 tons, slightly lower than 39,395 tons in January 2018. Exports in January included 24,000 tons (8,000 tons) in the Philippines and 7,000 tons (15,000 tons) in Malaysia. There was no export volume in January 2019 and 17,000 tons in 2018.
Fiji: South Pacific Fertilizer Company bid for 10,000 tons of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate on February 28 and shipped it in March. Gold barley won the bid at $149/ton CFR.
Indonesia: Petrokimia Gresik (PKG) is discussing the price of 100,000 tons of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulphate with contract suppliers in 2019 – Agrifert Liven, Aries and Golden Barley.
In 2018, Indonesian imports increased by 22%: GTT data showed that in 2018, Indonesian ammonium sulfate imports increased by 22%, from 1.07 million tons in 2017 to 13.04 million tons. More than 93% of imports are from China, and in 2018 China exported 1.22 million tons to Indonesia. Taiwan, China, increased from 26,000 tons in 2017 to 85,000 tons in 2018.
Vietnam: An inquiry for about 7,000-8,000 tons is underway.
Philippines: According to GTT data, the import of ammonium sulphate in the Philippines in 2018 was 9% less, from 545,978 tons in 2017 to 496,770 tons. China’s exports have fallen 16% from 406,000 tons in 2017 to 341,000 tons.
Central America: It is reported that Allied Harvest has accepted the tender of China Railway Corporation on February 26, and purchased a total of 28,947 tons of fertilizer, including 5,000 tons of internal grade and 5,350 tons of granular or extruded grade, and shipped from April 1 to 10. . According to reports, the purchase price of caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate is US$111/ton fob China.
