Indian July DAP stocks fall on the month to 2mn t
Indian DAP stocks continued declining in July and fell well below their levels of a year ago, led by a year-on-year drop in imports and domestic output.
Stocks at the end of July fell to around 2mn t from 2.3mn t at the end of June, and well below the 3.6mn t a year ago, provisional government data show.
DAP offtake was around 1mn t in July compared with 1.26mn t in July last year, but outstripped combined production and imports by around 250,000t. Domestic output totalled 373,000t, lower than the 437,000t in July last year. And imports fell to a three-month low of 377,000t, according to line-up data, well below the 571,000t imported last year.
So far this year, monthly DAP imports have consistently remained below their 2023 equivalent. India has struggled to import DAP because the maximum retail price and nutrient-based subsidy mean current cfr prices — last done at $590s/t last week for Saudi product — equate to a substantial loss for importers. Even with the potential introduction of a special additional subsidy for DAP, the breakeven price for imported DAP would only be raised to the mid-high $540s/t cfr.
Major Indian importers are currently negotiating a purchase of 300,000-500,000t of DAP with Morocco's OCP for arrival until the end of December. But these volumes alone would not be sufficient to push up stocks in the coming months if other imports and domestic output stagnate. Offtake typically exceeds 1mn t/month over September-November.
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Ethiopian EABC urea tender's lowest offer at $355/t cif
Ethiopian EABC urea tender's lowest offer at $355/t cif
London, 17 September (Argus) — Ethiopian Agricultural Businesses (EABC) closed a tender today to buy 250,000t of urea in five cargoes for September-October loading, with the lowest offer at $355/t cif. Pacific International appears to have offered at the lowest levels across all five cargoes on a cif basis. The firm offered lot 1 at $355/t cif, lot 2 at $359/t cif, while the offers on cif basis for the remaining three cargoes were at $368/t, $373/t, and $375/t, respectively. The urea is likely to be sourced from Oman. There were also seven other offers from suppliers. West Trade offered all cargoes, similarly to be sourced from Oman, on a cif basis at $375/t, $378/t, $380/t, $385/t and $382/t for lots 1-5, respectively. Midgulf likely offered one cargo under lot 5 at $410/t fob Egypt. Samsung offered three cargoes on a fob basis at $352/t fob Middle East, $375/t fob Egypt, and $362/t fob Middle East for lots 1,3 and 5. Supplier Fertiglobe appears to have offered $348/t fob under the first lot. ETG offered five cargoes, four of which are likely to be supplied from Onne, Nigeria, and offers were around $418/t cif, 419/t cif, $435/t cif and $422/t cif. Lot 4 was offered at $422/t cif basis and is likely to be sourced from Egypt. But there was no confirmation from the parties involved. Another supplier offered $450/t cif for lot 4. The lowest offer at $355/t cif marks a drop from $363/t cif under EABC's 12 July tender . By Dana Hjeij Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's Parana ports handle record cargo in Aug
Brazil's Parana ports handle record cargo in Aug
Sao Paulo, 16 September (Argus) — The Paranagua and Antonina ports, in Brazil's southern Parana state, handled a record amount of cargo in August thanks to increased fertilizer imports. The two ports handled 6.9mn metric tonnes (t) of cargo in August, up by 14pc from the same month in 2023 and above the prior record of 6.6mn t in June, according to Parana's port authority data. That also surpassed July's handling by 20pc. Imports totaled 2.5mn t last month, a 41pc hike from August 2023 and above the 2.2mn t handled in July. Fertilizer imports increased by 59pc to 1.2mn t in August from a year before and were 29pc — or 265,170t — above the prior month's imports. Exports reached 4.4mn t, up from 4.3mn t in August 2023 and a near 27pc increase from July's exports. Soybean shipments rose by 10pc to 1.9mn t in August from the same month last year. That was also above the 1.3mn t exported in the previous month. Corn exports decreased by 77pc to 72,900t, down from 316,430t shipped in August 2023 and almost in line with July's exports. Exports of bulk sugar increased by 34pc to 836,430t last month from the same period a year ago. That was also up by 77pc from July's exports. Parana ports handled 46.4mn t in January-August, up by 10pc from the same period in 2023, also boosted by higher imports. Imports increased by 23pc to 17.2mn t. Fertilizer imports rose by 14pc to 6.9mn t, up from 6mn t in January-August 2023. Exports totaled 29.2mn t, a 4pc increase from the same eight months last year. Soybean shipments rose by 11pc to 11.2mn t in the period, while corn exports dropped by 80pc to 581,730t from the same eight-month period in 2023. Wheat exports in January-August more than tripled to 171,830t from the same period a year before. Sugar shipments increased by 46pc to 4.2mn t. By Maria Albuquerque Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Chilean 2025 sulphuric acid contract talks kick off
Chilean 2025 sulphuric acid contract talks kick off
Washington, 16 September (Argus) — Contract negotiations for sulphuric acid supply to Chile during 2025 got under way at a major industry conference this week, with more than 2mn t to be priced. The spot price for fourth-quarter deliveries to Chile — usually a guide in talks — has averaged $163/t cfr on a midpoint basis during the third quarter, well above the $127.50/t cfr average for the current annual contract. Tight availability from most key suppliers — especially South Korea, Japan and northwest Europe — has kept spot delivered prices above the annual benchmark for several months. Suppliers will probably argue that Asian import parity will be the key factor for 2025 prices, with fewer northwest European cargoes arriving in Chile this year as a result of maintenance and Morocco's OCP absorbing spot volumes. Argus forecasts that OCP will import about 2mn t of acid in 2024, reflecting firm demand for finished phosphate products while a new sulphur burner capacity comes on line. OCP will continue importing acid as the burner ramps up. Buyers, on the other hand, will probably argue that availability will rise in Asia, and that this will lead to a shift in market dynamics in 2025. Chinese capacity is expected to increase as smelters come on stream, but tight global supply of copper concentrates could lead to an increase in idled capacity and limit acid availability for exports. Another key factor is Indonesia, where large smelters and sulphur burners associated with the electric vehicle industry are ramping up, removing some demand next year. Indonesia's sulphuric acid imports dropped by 14pc in January-July to 642,000t, after several buyers launched burners and switched to buying sulphur instead. Sulphur imports surged by 41pc in the first seven months of the year to 1.91mn t, following the expansion of burning operations at Obi Island and Sulawesi. These factors will probably foster buyer caution. But with smelting utilisation rates in Chile estimated at 65pc in 2023, below the global average of 78.2pc, according to Chilean copper commission Cochilco, the country will continue to rely on imports. By Lili Minton Chile cfr spot vs contract Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kenya's NCPB extends fertilizer tender
Kenya's NCPB extends fertilizer tender
London, 16 September (Argus) — Kenya's NCPB has extended the closing date of its buy tender for 245,000t of various fertilizers for the 2024-25 season under the country's fertilizer subsidy programme to 19 September. The closing date had previously been set for 13 September. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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