Cold spring subdued demand for fertilizers in the UK
Fertilizer prices are affected by a whole range of factors, including the weather. Highlighting this fact, the Farmers Guardian recently noted that a wet autumn and winter followed by a cold spring have disrupted farming operations and had an impact on the fertilizer supply industry.
It stated that demand for these resources among farmers have lagged behind since the end of last summer and a “hoped for busy strong period” had not materialised by the early stages of April.
The news source pointed out that industry estimates at the end of February suggested deliveries of fertilizer for the 2012/13 year were running at around eight per cent below the previous year and it seems likely that overall fertilizer deliveries could now be “well down” on last year.
It also noted that prices in the UK have remained generally static and, internationally, urea and potash prices have weakened, while phosphate has held relatively firm.
However, the UK ammonium nitrate (AN) price moved up slightly from the £305 per tonne at the start of the year to around £310 per tonne in April. This was similar to level recorded in April last year.
The news source remarked: “We might see a further price increase when demand picks up as UK prices are currently running at around £40/tonne below equivalent AN price levels on mainland Europe.”
Moving onto urea, it added: “The short-term outlook on the international urea market appears weak with demand falling off before picking up again towards late summer. The geopolitical nature of urea manufacture however makes it notoriously difficult to predict with accuracy.”
Because of the complexity of the fertilizer market, it is no surprise that there is high demand for expert analysis. These days, producers, consumers, suppliers and other interested parties can access all the fertilizer market analysis they need, helping to make their lives easier.
