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

Granular urea

Globally, bids into the US have firmed further for the first half of March, with large volumes of business still to be concluded.

Egypt still has problems with gas supply which will limit the availability of product.
In the UK, urea and urea/sulphur blends are very limited and some blenders are now only quoting late March/early April deliveries.

With markets looking firm in the short term UK importers will be reluctant to buy new vessels, potentially creating a shortfall in the UK as we enter March.

Ammonium nitrate

The UK market continues to be dominated by CF, which is aggressively pricing against imported AN.

NPK/PK

The market remains quiet for this time of year, although prices are firming as blenders try to increase levels to reflect raw material replacement values.