Most Retail Fertilizer Prices Continue Lower

OMAHA (DTN) — Retail fertilizer sellers surveyed by DTN for the first week of October 2024 continued to show average prices for nutrients were lower than last month.

Prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers were lower compared to last month, a trend for several weeks now. No fertilizer had a significant price increase or decline. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

DAP had an average price of $735 per ton, MAP $805/ton, potash $448/ton, urea $485/ton, 10-34-0 $590/ton, UAN28 $316/ton and UAN32 $350/ton.

One fertilizer was slightly more expensive than a month ago. Anhydrous had an average price of $688/ton. Last month it was $684.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.56/lb.N and UAN32 $0.55/lb.N.

A week ago, Hurricane Milton was bearing directly down on the Tampa, Florida, region. See more here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2024/10/07/hurricane-milton-heading-floridas.

The area east of Tampa is home to several phosphorus (P) mines, which process the product into fertilizer. This would be bad news for P prices already facing higher levels than a year ago and short supplies. Fertilizer analysts speculated that if these facilities were down for a long period of time, there would be a negative effect on retail fertilizer prices.

The storm came ashore farther to the south of Tampa than expected. While the city did see some damage, the effects were not as severe as they could have been.

As a result, P production facilities were not hit directly by Milton. The area is without power, but it was estimated to be returned in the coming weeks, and P fertilizer should see little change to price or supply. Read more about that here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2024/10/11/milton-comes-ashore-south-tampa-take.

Prices for all but two fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago. MAP is 1% higher, while DAP is 3% more expensive looking back to last year.

The remaining six fertilizers are lower. 10-34-0 is 4% lower, UAN28 is 11% less expensive, potash is 12% lower, anhydrous is 15% less expensive and both urea and UAN32 are 16% lower compared to last year.

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/agriculture/web/ag/markets/fuels-fertilizers#!/fertilizers.

Intrepid Potash CEO Bob Jornayvaz resigned after a recent medical leave, according to Dow Jones. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2024/10/09/potash-10-34-0-lead-fertilizer-lower.

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

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