Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc set its January official sulphur selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $174/t fob Ruwais, up by $9/t from its December OSP of $165/t fob.
Adnoc's January OSP implies a delivered price of $191-193/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India having last been assessed at $17-19/t on 19 December.
The announced OSP fob price has risen by $97/t in the space of a year, from $77/t fob Ruwais in January last year.
Houston, 24 April (Argus) — The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will delay the reopening of the Tennessee River's Wilson Lock by three weeks after high floodwater disrupted repair plans. The Wilson Lock is now planned to reopen in mid-June or July, the Corps said this week. The lock's main chamber has been closed since September after severe cracks were found in the structure. The Corps initiated evacuation procedures so personnel and equipment could be removed before any water entered the dewatered lock and ruined repairs after high water appeared too close to the lock's edge. The water did not crest above the temporary barrier the Corps installed to keep water out. Delays at the lock averaged around 10 days as of 24 April, according to the Corps. Barge carriers fees have been in place for each barge that must pass through the auxiliary chamber of the lock since 25 September, when the lock first closed. Restricted barge movement placed upward pressure on fertilizer prices in surrounding areas as well. The lock still requires structural repairs to the main chamber gates, including the replacement of the pintle components, the Corps said. This is the fourth opening delay the Corps have issued for the Wilson Lock, with the prior opening dates being in November , then April and then in June . The Wilson Lock will enter its eighth month of repairs next month. By Meghan Yoyotte and Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Amsterdam, 24 April (Argus) — Swiss trading firm Ameropa is set to load 45,000t of Algerian granular urea for India under IPL's 8 April tender, marking the first urea shipment along that route since December 2023. The firm has nominated the Spar Tarus to sail for the Indian east coast. The shipment highlights the fallout from US president Donald Trump's import tariff levy rollout, combined with dwindling demand in Europe and Brazil. The US had placed an initial import tariff of 30pc on Algerian urea on 2 April , before granting a 90-day reprieve on 9 April. The US had been Algeria's second-largest destination market after Brazil, with Algeria's urea supplies accounting for 456,000t of US imports last year and shipping as much as 590,000t to the US in 2023. The lack of clarity on the situation in the US likely forced the pivot towards India, with the Indian east coast price of $398.24/t cfr under IPL's enquiry offering higher netbacks and liquidity compared with Europe and Brazil at the time. But the US market has since firmed further, increasing its attractiveness, despite the 10pc import tariffs in place. Domestic urea barge prices jumped to $435-470/short ton fob Nola on 23 April, while the European spring season is coming to an end and Brazil's appetite remains comparatively lacklustre. Algeria benefits from a sailing time of 20-24 days to the US, depending on the destination port, the shortest among major producers. The Phatra Naree has been nominated to load around 35,000t of urea from Algeria's Arzew city to the US on 27 April, according to trade analytics firm Kpler data. Meanwhile, Egyptian producer Mopco sold 30,000t of granular urea at $395/t fob on 23 April, likely for the US. By Harry Minihan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sao Paulo, 23 April (Argus) — A produtora brasileira de fertilizantes Rifertil entrou com pedido de recuperação judicial, alegando aumento nas dívidas por impactos cambiais, queda de preços e condições adversas no setor causadas pela seca do ano passado. As dívidas da Rifertil totalizam R$647,9 milhões, de acordo com documento obtido pela Argus e protocolado na vara cível de Rio Verde, em Goiás. O pedido de recuperação judicial, também confirmado pelo escritório de advocacia da empresa, foi protocolado em 22 de abril e aguarda análise do tribunal goiano. O pedido de recuperação judicial destaca que o setor de fertilizantes enfrenta dificuldades desde 2022, quando os preços dos nutrientes estavam elevados por conta da pandemia de Covid-19 e, posteriormente, pelo início do conflito entre Ucrânia e Rússia. Naquele período, previsões sobre uma possível escassez no mercado global de fertilizantes contribuíram para o aumento dos preços. Porém, as previsões não se concretizaram e os preços caíram nos meses seguintes, causando prejuízos que afetaram o fluxo de caixa da empresa desde então. O documento também destaca os problemas enfrentados por produtores em Goiás, principal mercado e sede da empresa. Entre o último trimestre de 2023 e o início de 2024, muitas cidades goianas decretaram estado de emergência devido ao clima mais seco do que o normal. Isso contribuiu para a falta de liquidez dos produtores, prejudicando o agronegócio brasileiro, principalmente devido ao aumento da inadimplência de clientes. O escritório de advocacia da Rifertil também afirmou que a valorização do dólar norte-americano em relação ao real ao longo do segundo semestre de 2024 contribuiu para o aumento do endividamento da empresa, já que muitos produtos e serviços do setor de fertilizantes são negociados em dólar. A empresa foi fundada em 2000 e sua sede fica em Rio Verde, em Goiás. Também possui fábricas em Catalão, Goiás, e em Maruim, no Sergipe. A capacidade combinada das três unidades é de 750.000 toneladas/ano. Por João Petrini Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
Sao Paulo, 23 April (Argus) — Brazilian fertilizer producer Rifertil filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors, citing a debt load inflated by currency impacts, falling prices and tough sector conditions caused by drought last year. Rifertil's debts total R647.9mn ($112.7mn), according to a document seen by Argus , which was filed with the civil court of Rio Verde, in central-western Goias state. The request, also confirmed by the office of the company's attorney, was filed on 22 April and is now awaiting analysis by the Goias court. The bankruptcy protection filing highlights that the fertilizer sector has been facing difficulties since 2022, when nutrient prices were high because of the Covid-19 pandemic and, later, because of the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. At that time, predictions such as a shortage in the global fertilizer market contributed to an increase in fertilizer prices. But the forecasts did not materialize and prices fell in the following months, causing losses that have hit the company's cash flow since then. The document also highlights problems faced by producers in Goias, the company's main market and headquarters. Between the last quarter of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, many cities in Goias declared states of emergency because of drier than usual weather conditions. This contributed to a lack of liquidity for producers, hurting Brazil's agribusiness, especially from an increase in defaults from customers. Rifertil's attorney also said that the US dollar's strengthening to the Brazilian real throughout the second half of 2024 inflated the company's debt, since many products and services in the fertilizer sector are traded in US dollars. The company was founded in 2000 and its headquarters is in Rio Verde city, in Goias. It also has factories in Catalao city, Goias, and Maruim city, in northern Sergipe state. The three units' combined capacity is of 750,000 metric tonnes/yr. By João Petrini Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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