Indian fertilizer importer SmartChem Technologies (STL) has issued a tender to purchase 20,000t of caprolactam-grade standard ammonium sulphate (amsul), for arrival in the first half of June.
The tender requested for the cargo to be shipped to Mumbai port. The last date for bid submissions is 26 April, with bids valid until 28 April. The company is expected to source the product from China.
SmartChem last issued a tender on 7 February to buy 20,000-25,000t of standard amsul for early March shipment to the west coast of India, with award prices in the $220s/t cfr India.
Standard amsul prices have been on a downward trend since November 2022, with Argus-assessed prices at a midpoint of $122.50/t fob China on 20 April. But Chinese amsul prices are expected to firm slightly in the coming weeks, owing to strong demand from trading firms needing to uphold their previous short commitments for May shipments, according to market participants. A domestic tender by Chinese fertilizer producer Fujian Tianchen this week was indicated at an equivalent to $130/t fob China for loading before 10 June.
