Calum Findlay, Gleadell’s fertiliser manager, comments on the fertiliser markets

Urea

With minimal fresh news since last week, the global market is flat and lacks any direction. In Europe and the US, values remain unchanged as no deals for prompt shipments have been concluded and farmer demand ahead of the approaching application season remains moderate.

Statistics suggest there is a huge amount of business to be concluded in all areas but it will take the start of field applications to bring this demand to the surface and it will then be a case of available transport and product.

Ammonium nitrate

Demand remains slow, but there is still about 35% of the UK nitrogen market to be covered, so demand in March, April and May will be intense. Pricing levels for both UK and imported product are firm, but logistics are the real issue.

NPK/PK

Blenders and merchants had been squeezed as they competed for tonnes, but with firming replacement prices on N, P and K, all values have now moved higher for March and April deliveries. Further increases in both compounds and blended products are expected.