Nitrogen
Overview
The ease of urea availability east and west of Suez has shaped the current trade flows of this key nitrogen fertilizer. Despite challenges posed by energy prices and military conflicts, key import markets such as India, Australia, and Latin America remain robust. But structural oversupply and the role of China as a swing exporter have led to price volatility as this fast-moving market seeks equilibrium, more so during seasonally high-demand periods.
Our extensive nitrogen coverage includes prilled and granular urea, UAN, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulphate. Argus has many decades of experience covering the nitrogen market and incorporates our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including ammonia and natural gas to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Daily and weekly nitrogen price assessments, proprietary data and market commentary
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of urea prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest nitrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global nitrogen industry.
Elevated nitrate levels found in Iowa water: EPA
Elevated nitrate levels found in Iowa water: EPA
Houston, 20 November (Argus) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added seven Iowa water segments to its impaired US waters list, saying they are all polluted with nitrate, possibly stemming from nitrogen fertilizer runoff. The EPA added these seven water segments to the list of impaired waters on 12 November, determining each was laden with nitrate pollution. The EPA invoked water restoration plans in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This is in addition to the 712 water segments in Iowa that are already on the state's list of water segments that need a restoration plan under the Clean Water Act, according to the EPA. The largest contributor to nitrate pollution is manure and commercial fertilizer that runs off farm fields, according Pam Taylor, director of the Iowa Sierra Club Chapter. Nearly 85pc of land in Iowa is farmland, using nearly 149 lbs of nitrogen fertilizer per acre annually,the US Department of Agriculture said. The Iowa DNR initially submitted a list of water segments that need restoration attention on 9 May, which was only partially approved by the EPA. This triggered the agency to place these additional water segments on public notice until 12 December. Once that date has passed, the EPA can implement a restoration plan in partnership with the Iowa DNR. The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club is in support of the EPA's decision. It alleged that the DNR purposefully used an incorrect method to determine nitrate pollution, which may have enabled the DNR to excuse certain water segments from the list of impaired bodies. Separately, a letter was also sent to the EPA on 16 April by several Iowa agencies requesting the EPA apply its emergency powers to address nitrate groundwater contamination in northeastern Iowa. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Major amsul producers increase pricing for 1Q
Major amsul producers increase pricing for 1Q
Houston, 19 November (Argus) — US ammonium sulfate producers Interoceanic Corporation (IOC) and AdvanSix have increased prices for first-quarter deliveries. IOC increased its first-quarter offers by $20-35/st at all distribution points except for its Houston plant , which will remain at $345/st fob. The low end of the range offered was $335/st fob at Nola, while the high end was $405/st rail delivered for Northern Plains. AdvanSix increased amsul prices by $25/st for all locations for first-quarter delivery. The Hopewell, Virginia, value rose to $355/st fob. Upper Mississippi River warehouses increased to $385/st fob, while Ohio River and Granite City, Illinois, prices increased to $380/st fob. Inland warehouses and rail quotes will maintain traditional premiums over river locations, AdvanSix said. Amsul values continue to rise into the winter pre-pay season because of short domestic supply, driven by high input costs inflating market values. By Meghan Yoyotte IOC's Ammonium Sulfate Prices for 1Q $/st Location Value Nola Barge $335/st FOB Houston $345/st St Louis and Delta Terminals $380/st Upper Mississippi River Terminals $385/st Illinois River Terminals $385/st Ohio River Terminals $380/st FOB Sioux City/Omaha/Casselton, ND $405/st Rail Delivered Northern Plains $405/st — IOC AdvanSix's Amsul prices for 1Q $/st Location Value FOB Hopewell, VA $355/st Upper Mississippi River $385/st Ohio River/Granite City, IL $380/st — AdvanSix Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's urea sales regain momentum in November
India's urea sales regain momentum in November
Amsterdam, 18 November (Argus) — India's domestic urea sales are on track to hit around 3.4mn t this month, rising from 3.2mn t a year earlier, with offtake set to be a key determinant of the timing of the country's next import tender. Urea offtake has been running at the equivalent of 3.4mn t in November, up by 200,000t on the year, provisional data show. Production is set to be around 2.6mn t, down from 2.76mn t a year ago. The trend of increasing urea sales so far this month marks a reversal from October, when sales are likely to have totalled 2.32mn t, down from 2.37mn t a year earlier, provisional data show. Output had been similarly down in October on the year, with urea production at 2.58mn t, dipping from 2.85mn t a year earlier. Urea sales typically peak in November-January in the winter Rabi season and Indian authorities will be closely following domestic consumption for the timing of the next urea import tender. Importer IPL last week secured 1.03mn t of urea in its 11 November purchase tender, the sixth this year. By Harry Minihan India's urea sales 2024-25 vs 2023-24 Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India's IPL outlines ports for urea tender awards
India's IPL outlines ports for urea tender awards
Amsterdam, 15 November (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer and producer IPL has allocated ports to suppliers for awards under its 11 November tender, which saw the firm buy 1.03mn t of urea for the west coast. IPL issued letters of intent to agreed suppliers for just over 1mn t at $362/t cfr west coast in the evening of 14 November . The breakdown of the awards by supplier and port are detailed in the table below. IPL requested loading by 25 December. Middle East producers are set to dominate supply and will likely end up accounting for half of the tonnage, with netbacks equating to around the high $340s/t fob. Russian tonnage amounts to 200,000t so far at $305-310/t fob Baltic, while Malaysia's Petronas could account for around 100,000t. Nigeria's Indorama will load a total of three urea vessels to IPL next month — one directly and two for trading firms, following one cargo to RCF under the previous Indian urea tender. Nigerian urea moving eastwards highlights the comparative weakness in the Americas. This trend was further underscored by Egypt's Abu Qir also opting to support a trading firm with a prilled urea vessel under this latest tender. By Harry Minihan IPL 11 November urea tender port allocations Supplier Quantity (t) Discharge port Samsung 45,000 Mundra Samsung 45,000 Mundra Samsung 45,000 Mundra Samsung 45,000 Kandla Samsung 45,000 Kandla Sun International 50,000 Mundra Indorama 46,000 Kandla Ameropa 47,150 Pipavav Agrifields 40,000 New Mangalore Agrifields 30,000 New Mangalore Aditya Birla Global Trading 55,000 Mundra Aditya Birla Global Trading 42,000 Mundra Aditya Birla Global Trading 50,000 Pipavav Aditya Birla Global Trading 50,000 Adani Tuna Koch 47,500 Kandla ETG 50,000 Adani Tuna Hexagon 47,000 Pipavav Midgulf 38,800 Rozy Midgulf 46,000 Mundra Fertistream 31,500 Jaigarh Keytrade 42,000 Rozy Fertiglobe 45,000 Dahej Fertiglobe 45,000 Hazira West coast total 1,027,950 — Market sources Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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