The intention of the below graphs are not to use to say "my price should be X based on this graph". These prices are derived from an FOB price point average. The intent is to show major global price movement trends. Your values will likely have significant basis difference (similar to your local grain price being different than the traded market price).
This graph is labeled as MT in USD currency.
Global
It seems like the current market is sitting around waiting...on India.
Today, there is not much happening around the world from a purchase/sales perspective. It is a period where everyone is pondering what to do next. Given that India fell short of needs on the last tender, they will likely step forward again...and be met with an excited/bullish marketplace.
Longer term, I'm still focused on China and their export programs. Either they are restricting exports now and will be a bigger exporter later, or they sneakily export product today. Either way, the market feels like it has some weakness longer term.
Long story short - watch for price pops in the coming weeks/month or so as India comes back to the table. Then watch for Chinese export timing. Feels like lower prices are ahead, just a matter of how quickly.
North America
The NOLA market is in a world by itself. Barges that ship rather quickly are bringing anywhere from a $50 - $60 premium over later ship barges. That alone is enough to warrant a bearish outlook...but talking about a discount already in the system is cheating!
There is a lot of time between now and spring. While N.A. needs imports to meet 2024 demand, there is plenty of time for that to happen. If the world goes quiet and vessels start pointing to the U.S. for lack of options, watch out for the downside. We have seen this before multiple times.
Long story short - if we see global values spring higher, NOLA is going to follow but today I am more focused on a quiet demand/growing supply period building which will lean on values. Just do not lose track of logistics where concerns are growing on the river by the day.
I've thought about this section a lot in the last month and I've decided I'm going to discontinue it. I swear I'm not being lazy!!! My issue is that this decision can vary so widely.
- What crops are you growing?
- Where are you located?
- What programs are you using?
- Are you just looking for the fertilizer low or are you selling grain as well?
- Are you at a higher weather risk for growing next season?
- What is your local basis (what makes your area values unique)?
That just touches the number of questions which differentiate each and every person who subscribes to this. What makes sense for one may not make sense to the nexst.
At the end of the day, it is NOT my place to tell ANYONE what to do/not do for their operation. I'm here to provide background/information/insight into the markets but you make your own decisions. You have to answer to your bank/suppliers/etc.
While the fertilizer futures market is far from as liquid as its grain counterparts, it is still active and gives us an insight into what the market is thinking.
Please note that the values below can and will change daily. This is merely a look at where they are as of writing:
| NOLA Urea | Middle East Urea | CFR Brazil Urea | |
| October | $390 | $417.50 | - |
| November | $385 | $425 | $417.50 |
| December | $387.50 | $422.50 | - |
| January '24 | $380 | - | - |
| February | $385 | - | - |
| March | $385 | - | - |
India purchase tender continued to dominate global urea headlines
Last month, the leading urea story of what had happened was India. Not only did they step forward with a purchase tender, they ended up netting approximately 1.8MMT (it ended up being lowered slightly on final awards than previously thought). While the expectation was that they would need more imports thru the remainder of the year, many believed they could delay that purchase.
Many were wrong.
While much of the U.S. was enjoying a Monday off for Labor Day, India was getting to work by announcing a shock tender for another layer of tons. Needless to say, the market reacted.
Now, part of the reason that global urea prices shot higher was due to China's export restriction fears which is better explained in the next section. However, between heightened fears of China not exporting near term and India stepping in to buy again, global values shot up by around $100.
The tender process ended up being fairly intriguing:
- Unlike recent tenders, there was not a "target" number of tons being looked for
- It appeared this tender had more to do with want than need. With it being an election year in India, the government being responsible for imports, and much of the voting base being ag based, politicians want to make sure inventories are not a subject of conversation.
- Offer values were WIDE. The difference between the lowest west coast offer and the next lowest offer was $20. The difference between lowest east coast offer and the next lowest offer was $30. That was unheard of.
Ultimately, India was successful in securing 525KMT and the response was mixed:
- Bulls pointed to the fact that 525KMT was far short of the 1.0 - 1.5MMT expectation and that India would have to step back in eventually (agree with this point).
- Bears pointed to the fact that outside India, there is not a lot of demand interest around the world and offers will realize that next round.
Since the conclusion of the tender, the markets have been mostly quiet with very limited activity being slightly lower. No doubt the market is keeping its powder dry for the next move.
Chinese exports restricted...or were they?
As mentioned above, the fear of Chinese urea export restriction being put into place played a part in global urea values shooting higher. Give what has happened in the last year or more, I cannot blame anyone for this fear.
It is interesting how the situation played out. As I was told/explained, there are 3 major nitrogen production companies in China with deep ties to the central government.
- SinoAgri
- Sino Petrol
- Sino Chem
To be fully up front, before this recent situation, I did not know this!!
The Saturday before Labor Day (Monday) in the U.S., SinoAgri announced that they were restricting urea exports in order to effectively focus on filling Chinese storage facilities. On the surface, it was one company making one announcement. Hardly enough to get overly worried. However, by Tuesday, Sino Petrol made a similar announcement. We never heard an official announcement from Sino Chem, but they are believed to be doing the same thing.
Normally, the perceived loss of one of the world's largest urea exporters is a big bullish deal which is exactly why the market responded as it did. However, two cautionary tales:
- Since then, hearing that the export restrictions are mostly for India. Other regions/countries have seen exports allowed. If true (not confirmed), it would mean that Chinese exports are still occurring. While perhaps not to "normal" destinations, if they are exporting it means the global S&D is still where it was.
- If exports are being restricted in lieu of filling domestic warehouses, eventually those stores will get full. We are not hearing production issues within China (that can change). If production continues, then it means warehouses will fill quickly, forcing manufacturers to lean on the export market more heavily later in the year.
Today, it is still a lot of speculation and rumor. That is typical for China. One of the most important fertilizer countries...shrouded in mystery!
European production rates improve slightly
For a while now, we have been almost solely focused on the Dutch TTF (European natural gas) markets in regards to European nitrogen production. With it being the largest input to produce nitrogen fertilizers, it makes sense to give it the attention it needs.
However, focusing only on the input side would be akin to only focusing on the purchase price of fertilizer. At the end of the day, it is about the profit rather than just the price.
That is why rising nitrogen values around the world are having a small affect.
Dutch TTF values have mostly flatlined with the highest values being around $16MMbtu for the winter months. Nitrogen facilities are difficult and pricey to turn on/off so the decision to change is not made lightly. If the decision is made to restart, they have to assume they will stay on for the foreseeable future which is why we focus on winter month input values. While the input values have been steady, global nitrogen values have been rising. This has helped some facilities that were running at reduced rates ramp up production and has even seen a facility in Romania decide to restart.
Last month, we were still assuming Europe as a whole was producing at a rate of 70 - 75% of normal. Today, we believe that number to be closer to the 80 - 85% range. Still off of "normal", but every improvement is just that...an improvement.
Time will tell what happens but given its importance on the global marketplace, we need to keep watching.
Nearby NOLA urea values huge premium to future shipments on tight nearby supplies
The previous spring season story has felt like it just wouldn't end...but it is about to.
A quick background: last spring saw tremendous demand for urea which resulted in extremely tight ending inventories. Reports came from all over N.A. where buyers were struggling to find product that would show up in a timely fashion. That meant as we closed fertilizer year 2023 (June 30th) and started fertilizer year 2024 (July 1st), the urea market was starting with very little product sitting around.
Unfortunately, it does not look like imports have helped to build stockpiles on the river system. Also seen some production issues/summer turnaround repairs occur that have further tightened the S&D.
All of this has come to a head in the month of September in the NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) market. Physical urea barges that are to be loaded and shipped in the month of September have seen trades in the $420 - $435 range. However, those that can wait until October/November/etc., those trades have seen a sizeable discount (into the $370's).
Before rushing to your retailer demanding a $50 - $60 discount on current prices, please be aware of the fact that most of the distribution and manufacturing side of the market is solely focused on nearby values. They are not wanting to recognize the discounted price in hopes of forcing the market to pay higher nearby values.
What should be done with this information is to continue talking to your retailer on opportunities out there. Once these lower values hopefully find their way to the retailer, they will know what you are looking for.
NOLA/New Orleans, Louisiana
Number 3 global importer in 2022
Price comparisons
Vs 30 days ago - +14% or approximately $50 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +32% or approximately $98 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +31% or approximately $95 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -33% or approximately $195 lower
U.S. Midwest Average
Vs 30 days ago -+6% or approximately $28 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +4% or approximately $18 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +28% or approximately $104 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -28% or approximately $187 lower
U.S. Southern Plains Average
Vs 30 days ago - +17% or approximately $70 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +20% or approximately $80 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +17% or approximately $73 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -27% or approximately $183 lower
U.S. Northern Plains Average
Vs 30 days ago - +7% or approximately $31 higher
Vs 90 days ago - -3% or approximately $13 lower
Vs 6 months ago - +23% or approximately $88 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -30% or approximately $204 lower
Middle East
Number 1 exporter (as a region, not as individual nations)
Vs 30 days ago - +10% or approximately $35 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +32% or approximately $95 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +33% or approximately $98 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -39% or approximately $248 lower
Egypt
Number 4 global exporter in 2022
Price comparisons
Vs 30 days ago - +13% or approximately $50 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +24% or approximately $83 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +29% or approximately $97 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -46% or approximately $370 lower
Black Sea
Number 1 global exporter in 2022
Price comparisons
Vs 30 days ago - +12% or approximately $39 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +29% or approximately $83 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +43% or approximately $110 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -42% or approximately $260 lower
China
Number 9 global exporter in 2022
Price comparisons
Vs 30 days ago - +6% or approximately $23 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +35% or approximately $105 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +17% or approximately $58 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -37% or approximately $233 lower
Brazil
Number 2 global importer in 2022
Price comparisons
Vs 30 days ago - +14% or approximately $48 higher
Vs 90 days ago - +33% or approximately $98 higher
Vs 6 months ago - +27% or approximately $85 higher
Vs 1 year ago - -40% or approximately $265 lower
- Chinese export flows are still extremely questionable - just when we thought we had Chinese exports resuming normal flows, the central government steps in to ruin the party. Now, there are many in the global urea market who believe that Chinese exports will suffer for the foreseeable future, leaving the global S&D more tightly supplied than normal.
- European production rates continue to suffer under high input costs - it has been a while since we have heard an announcement regarding an offline European nitrogen plant restarting. A lot of that is due to the fact that Dutch TTF values have largely gone quiet and sideways. While Europe is far from a huge manufacturing region, they are still part of the world S&D. Their remaining offline production means a reduction in supply and an increase in demand.
- N.A. tight spring ending inventories/northern production issues continue to haunt the market - I cannot express how little inventory of urea was left at the end of last spring. That alone was enough to make the N.A. market feel tight. Combine that with production issues in Canada and a relative lack of imports to start the new fertilizer year and you get a market that is extremely tight. Just ask anyone that has tried to buy product recently.
- Urea is currently the highest cost form of nitrogen - now, it is only October. There is a long time between now and spring. There also isn't a ton of buyers having to make decisions between their N sources. That said, those approaching the market today are finding a market where urea is high priced vs both UAN and NH3. Farmers like to save money so we could see more demand switch away from urea until the difference gets balanced again...if the difference gets balanced again.
- Rumors that Chinese export restrictions applies only to India - today, the leading conversation is that Chinese exports are being restricted as a whole in order to fill domestic warehouses. Effectively, it is the approach of take care of home first. However, new rumors continue to pop up that restrictions only apply for tons destined for India while other destinations are free flowing. If that is true, the global S&D looks much better with more supply available.
- A possible incoming quiet period could have long positions questioning themselves - once India gets comfortable with their stockpiles, they could go quiet for a decent amount of time. Then we are left with the question of who steps forward as the driving buyer? The list isn't very long...if it goes quiet, inventories build, interest cost grow, etc. Basically, it gets easier by the day to justify a lower value to make a sale.
We believe that only looking at the flat price of either grains or fertilizer can be misleading:
-
Only selling grain can hurt you if fertilizer prices rise substantially
-
Only buying fertilizer can hurt you if grain prices fall
We look at the ratio "value" to get a better indication of where we are or how many bushels of X does it take to pay for 1 ton of fertilizer.
Would you rather:
-
Spend 135 bushels to pay for 1 ton of urea
-
Spend 55 bushels to pay for 1 ton of urea
When we compare the current ratio value against recent years, we start to see if we are high or low.
YOUR VALUES WILL LOOK DIFFERENT
This graph looks at the NOLA urea price vs the flat grain price. There are no logistics on either product. Your location will look different due to fertilizer logistical costs, grain basis, etc.
- China, China, China - just when the global urea market thinks it has China figured out, they throw a curveball. In the last India purchase tender, China played a huge part in supplying approximately 1M tons. The global urea market fell as a result. On the next surprise India tender, China effectively slowed/stopped exports from participating. The global urea market rose as a result. Now, there are rumors that China is only limiting exports on Indian destinations but not elsewhere. What China decides to do influences the global urea market.
- N.A. fall NH3 success/failure - today, it looks like we will have a huge fall NH3 run. If this happens, the discussion point will start in regards to how much spring urea (and UAN) was taken away as a result. It is too early to tell today...but we are only 30 days away from starting to find out.
- Global demand...timing - for the most part, we know what world demand looks like going forward. However, the timing can have huge implications. If demand is pulled sooner than expected, as India has just done, then we see the market react bullishly. If demand suddenly disappears as a result of high prices, the correction comes.
All data was sourced from StoneX unless otherwise noted.
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