International ammonium sulfate market

Black Sea / Baltic Sea

 According to SBU Azot, for the 3000-5000 tons of ammonium sulfate delivered at the end of February, theFOB Black Sea price is above $150/ton. However, buying interest is low, quoted at $140-145 per tonFOB Black Sea. Kuibyshevazot has sold 3,000 tons of standard grade ammonium sulphate this week and will ship from Novorossiysk in February with FOB price of $144-146/ton. The Baltic Sea is still out of stock, and the last offer FOB $140-143/ton.

 Schekinoazot is currently not exporting and will supply 6,000 tons of standard ammonium sulphate to the Phosagro plant located in Cherepovets in January with a price Rs 9600/t ($144/ton) CPT Koshta, excluding VAT. Granular ammonium sulphate is being sold to end users in the domestic market. Schekinoazot is likely to sell all of its products to the domestic market from February to April.

 Ukraine

 Depending on the manufacturers, ammonium sulphate particles are sold in Ukraine at 7600-8000 HRN ($271-285/tonne). Ukrainian products are imported through distributors or from Belarus and Poland. And standard grade ammonium sulfate from Poland is sold at a price of 6500-6600 HRN/ton from a railway station close to the border.

 Lithuania

 The data shows that Lithuania imported 259,603 tons from January to November 2018, slightly higher than the 248,606 tons in the same period of 2017. Imports from these three major suppliers show that the supply of ammonium sulphate from China has increased and the supply from Russia and Belarus has decreased. The main imports are as follows (the previous year in brackets): China's 74.561 thousand tons (35.707 thousand tons), Russia's 55.46 thousand tons (64.508 thousand tons), and Belarus 51,176 thousand tons (6.7519 thousand tons).

 Northwestern Europe

 European buyers have begun to return to the market. Though this is the traditional off-season of the year, the market has progressed very slowly. According to the seller, as of March, many extrusion equipment repaired, the current demand for producers is very slow. Various of grades of ammonium sulphate from various sources is available at FOB €120-125/ton . The net price in Brazil is still at FOB$121-123/ton . OCI standard grade ammonium sulphate, priced at €135/ ton CIF inland, equivalent to 120 euros / ton FOB NW Europe. OCI is sold in 2mm and 3mm sizes in January and February and will be delivered in March. The grainy 2mm inland price is €190-195/ton and in the northwest of Europe it is €180/ton.

 Belgian producer Lanxess's production of ammonium sulphate at Antwerp plant has declined, resulting in some delays in contract delivery in January and early February.

Spain

 In Spain, the demand for standard grade ammonium sulphate will remain stable at 5,000 tons. And the price is about CFR €134-136/ton.

 Turkey

 As the spring approaches, there are several inquiries about the amsul standard level in Turkey this week. According to reports, Toros is looking for 1.5-2 tons of ammonium sulfate for shipment in February, and another buyer is checking the price. The last sale was completed at a price of $150/ton with tariff unpaid. Turkish buyers are bidding $10 lower per ton, given that China's FOB price is around $115/ton, which indicating CFR price $144-146/ton excluding taxes.

 China

 Caprolactam-grade ammonium sulfate was offered slightly lower this week, at $115-117/tonne FOB. However, seeing the end of Brazilian demand, the next offshore price of goods that may be shipped to Turkey is even lower, at $112-114/ton.

Brazil

 Since the purchase of Safrinha has almost done, the last batch of goods is either from China or is being discussed in Europe or the United States. China's selling price remains at $185-195/ton CFR, while in Europe it is around $205/ton. There are still some demand for immediate shipments in Europe or the United States. In this case, a ship needs to be loaded in February, arriving by mid-March at the latest.

 Brazil's standard grade price is flat between 140-150 US dollars / ton CFR, China is at the low end, Europe is at the high end.

 The data shows that as of the beginning of February, nine freighters carrying 286,000 tons of ammonium sulfate will enter the Brazilian port. Except for the two shipments in Belgium, all came from China. Brazil's ammonium sulphate imports increased from 1.9 million tons in 2017 to 2.32 million tons in 2018, an increase of 22%. China remains the main supplier, accounting for 60% of imports, higher than 38% in 2017. China exported 1.4 million tons of ammonium sulphate to Brazil in 2018,  higher than 720,560 tons in 2017.

 At the same time, major European producers lost market against Chinese competitors. In 2018, imports from Belgium, Brazil's second largest supplier, fell by 21% to 333,335 tons. Similarly, imports from the Netherlands fell 22% to 126,462 tons. In 2018, US ammonium sulphate imports fell by more than half from 392,092 tons in the previous year to 192,791 tons. In\n Poland fell only 5% to 112.849 million tons, while imports from Lithuania jumped 71% to 5.8005 million tons. Spain's shipments also rose against the trend, rising from 1,697 tons a year ago to 4.5275 million tons, and Russia's imports also rose from 16,848 tons to 39,237 tons.

Mexico

 Mexican buyers are expected to re-enter the market to buy fresh goods soon. The Strategic Spirit is scheduled to enter Manzanillo on January 4, transporting 126,000 tons of standard grade ammonium sulfate and 10,000 tons of granular ammonium sulfate from Pacifex in Korea. The data shows that Mexico imported 351,500 tons of ammonium sulphate from January to October 2018, an increase of about one-third from 265,985 tons in the first 10 months of 2017. South Korean imports increased by 10,000 tons to 153,723 tons, and Belgium imports increased by 7% to 232,228 tons. There is also a 32,000 tons of cargo from Russia and a 22,000 tons of cargo from the Netherlands.

 USA / Canada

 Fibrant plans to ship two shipments to the US/Canada in March/April.