International ammonium sulfate market

Turkey

Turkey's purchases increased before the spring. China's caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate is quoted at $143-146/tonne CFR excluding taxes. Korean is $156-159/ton exempt from tax plus credit.

Turkey's imports fell: Turkey's financial and political crisis this year hit the import. Imports from January to October 2018 fell 13% to 711,155 tons from 821,601 tons in the same period in 2017. In October of this year, only 6610 tons of ammonium sulfate were imported, compared with 28.83 million tons in October 2017. China's ammonium sulphate continued to dominate in this year's total. From January to October, Turkey imported 382,369 tons, a year-on-year increase of 10%.

In contrast, imports from South Korea have fallen sharply, with a 43% reduction to 894.37 million tons in the first ten months. From January to October this year, Russian ammonium sulphate imports increased by 62,000 tons to 751.93 million tons, while Ukrainian imports fell by 19% to 70.645 million tons.

Black Sea / Baltic Sea

The Ukrainian DMZ intends to close the tender for 800 tons of ammonium sulphate on December 17. The offer of $100/ton cpt Kherson has been rejected, and the manufacturer’s intent price is $120/ton cpt Kherson. Steel producer ArcelorMittal has not yet issued a December bid, while Kuibyshevazot has no ammonium sulphate to ship in December. Due to domestic demand, the producer will not export in January. In addition, Kazakhstan is looking for more ammonium sulphate enquiries than last year. Russian steel producer NLMK did not have ammonium sulfate for export in December. It is dedicated to selling to Phosagro and local farmers.

Lithuania

It is reported that a Chinese trader proposed to a buyer in Lithuania to ship about 50,000 tons of ammonium sulfate in January, price unknown. The FOB price is $116/ton, thus CIF price above $140/tonne.

Northwestern Europe

Before Christmas, buying interest slowed down. Standard grade is reported at $146-149/ton FOB , with granular urea sales be