Six fertilizers cost less than month ago, with three considerably cheaper

Once again, six fertilizers were slightly lower while the remaining two fertilizers were a little higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Three fertilizers were considerably lower. DAP had a 6% decline in price compared to last month. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $873/ton.

Both potash and urea were 5% less expensive looking back a month. MAP had an average price of $884/ton while urea was at $567/ton.

The remaining two nutrients slightly higher in price were 10-34-0 at $674/ton and anhydrous at $864/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.53/lb.N, UAN28 $0.73/lb.N and UAN32 $0.73/lb.N.

Last week, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) commented on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) submittal of an application seeking approval for the merger of the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads.

"The fertilizer industry relies heavily on rail, and many shippers already operate with limited transportation options, increasing costs, and continued service challenges, all with a 'take-it-or-leave-it' approach from railroads. Our priority is a rail system that provides reliable service and a balanced relationship between carriers and carload shippers, with accountability for systemic rail service failures and a rate review process that is efficient, timely, and economical."

TFI is still reviewing the STB filing, but the organization said in a press release that it is difficult to see how any coast-to-coast merger would improve this imbalance or meet the standard set out by the STB's merger rules.

"Today railroads hold all the cards, and larger railroads only give carriers a bigger deck. Now that UP and NS have submitted their merger application, we urge the Board to make the merger's impact on carload shippers, including fertilizer and agriculture, a priority during the review process."

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier: both MAP and potash by 9%, 10-34-0 by 10%, urea by 16%, DAP by 18%, anhydrous by 20% and both UAN28 and UAN32 by 28%.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.