Most Retail Fertilizer Prices Lower Again in First Week of September

OMAHA (DTN) — Average retail prices for seven of the eight major fertilizers continued to be slightly lower than last month during the first week of September 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN.

For the seventh week in a row, no fertilizer price showed a substantial move in either direction. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

The seven fertilizers that were lower in price compared to last month were DAP, with an average price of $739 per ton, MAP $813/ton, potash $486/ton, urea $490/ton, 10-34-0 $638/ton, UAN28 $327/ton and UAN32 $364/ton.

One fertilizer was just slightly more expensive. Anhydrous had an average price of $676/ton, up just $1 from last month.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.41/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Sage Potash announced it has entered into an agreement for the purchase of processing equipment for $12.6 million (Canadian), according to Dow Jones news service. This equipment is capable of processing up to 300,000 metric tons per year of potash, according to the company.

Most of the equipment being purchased was fabricated in 2012 at a cost of approximately EUR36 million ($54 million) at the time. Most of the equipment has never been assembled and is currently in storage in Europe.

The balance of the equipment to be acquired by the company will be purchased as secondhand machinery, according to the company.

Prices for three fertilizers are higher compared to one year ago. DAP is 1% higher, 10-34-0 is 4% more expensive and MAP is 9% higher than last year.

Prices for the remaining five fertilizers are lower. Anhydrous is 2% lower, potash is 6% less expensive, UAN32 is 7% lower, UAN28 is 8% less expensive and urea is 13% 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.

U.S. producers are frustrated with fertilizer prices not reflecting the multiple-year lows in grains, according to Dow Jones. You can read about it here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2024/09/04/retail-fertilizer-prices-remain.

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

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