Fertilizer Follies: A Cheeky View on Recent Import Trends
So, folks, buckle up! We’re diving into the world of agricultural imports where the prices are stable, the demand for fine harvests is as dry as last week’s toast, and someone’s obviously on their fifth cup of coffee making predictions!
The Big Picture: Rains and Gains
Recently, the provinces of Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and the northwest of Buenos Aires got a sprinkle of rain, which has given early corn a much-needed kick in the pants. Unfortunately, for other regions, those clouds were more like a “meh” in terms of moisture—too little to get crops jumping, but just enough for gardeners to complain about mud on their shoes!
Fertilizer Frenzy: Demand and Import Activity
Now, let’s talk about fertilizers! Demand seems to be holding its breath, with phosphates showing a community-level demand of 65%. It’s like a party where everyone’s invited, but only a handful of people show up because they heard it’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Beans—corn, of course!).
What’s surprising? Despite some fluctuating international prices, local importers are acting like kids in a candy store, shoving their hands into the sugar bowl without concern for after-effects. Stability in prices is the name of the game, albeit with a bit of tension as they mentally prepare for the PAIS Tax elimination—it’s like removing the weight of a cement boot from their foot during a sprint!
Import Stats: Numbers That Make You Go Hmm
According to the Fertilizer Information Report, the data shows that accummulated imports for MAP (monoammonium phosphate) and DAP (diammonium phosphate) hit around 877 tons, marking a sprightly 16% increase from last year. Is that a cause for celebration or just another Tuesday?
But here’s the kicker: fine grain demand has taken a nosedive by around 10%, possibly because farmers have decided they’d rather binge-watch their crops than actually grow them. Plus, corn planting? Let’s just say it’s singed the edges of a 20% drop! Someone cue the sad violin music!
Nitrogenates Show Up in Numbers
Switching gears to UREA—representing a whopping 80% of demand—it’s also hitting records with cumulative imports up 42% from last year. If that doesn’t scream “desperation,” I don’t know what does! Farmers clearly wish to keep their crops well-fed while they try to figure out if they’ve used too much fertilizer in their life or just enough for an edible garden.
What to Expect?
In the grand scheme, it seems like the local production is holding steady at 100 tons per month. But as the year wraps up, thanks to the scrappy elimination of the PAIS Tax about to take the stage, importers are keen to blitz through the inventory remaining. Who knew agricultural strategy involved running like a cheetah on espresso?
Final Thoughts
The past week saw import demand almost crash down to the floor—zero! You know it’s bad when the party has officially closed early, and even the leftovers are feeling neglected. Prices stabilize around UREA at $395-405 CFR and MAP/DAP at $655 CFR—so it’s clear there’s not much wiggle room left for new imports of phosphates. But in nitrogen? Oh, the adrenaline is still pumping!
Remember, dear readers, in a world of fertilizers, prices, and unpredictabilities, one thing remains certain: agriculture can always count on being a topic that brings people together—for better or worse, laughter is always on the harvest menu!
Importing was very active. Prices remained stable. Demand for the fine harvest was lower. Phosphates showed a demand of 65%.
(NAP) The rains recorded in recent days gave a new impetus to the planting of early corn, mainly in the province of Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and the northwest of Buenos Aires, in the rest of the regions the rains were not enough for plantings become widespread.
This situation allowed us to go through the last week with a good level of demand for fertilizers in general, with importers that were very active and with prices that remained stable despite the movements in international markets.
According to data published by the Fertilizer Information Report, prepared by Fertilizer EngineeringWhen analyzing import statistics, part of the explanation for price stability and the reduced margins with which the industry has been working is found.
Regarding phosphates, accumulated imports as of September of MAP (monoammonium phosphate) and DAP (diammonium phosphate), represent 65% of demand, reaching 877 t, 16% more than the same period in 2023, and 7% more than in 2022.
With a demand for fine grain that is 10% lower than in 2023 (mainly due to dose), and a drop in the corn planting area that cannot yet be measured, but that minimally exceeds 20%.
In Nitrogenates, when analyzing UREA, which represents almost 80% of the demand, and we see that accumulated imports as of September reach 745 t, 42% more than the same period in 2023, and 4% more than 2022. A situation is observed identical in phosphates, a 10% drop in demand in the first half of the year, less use in re-fertilizing wheat, and a drop in corn planting area. While local production maintains an average of 100t/month of UREA, the same as in 2023.
To all this, we must add the elimination of the PAIS Tax (7.5%) by the end of the year, which adds additional spice to importers, who will want to reach 12/31 without inventories.
Import demand during the last week was almost zero, with CFR prices stable for the main fertilizers. UREA $395-405 CFR, MAP/DAP $655 CFR.
There does not seem to be much room for new imports of phosphates, while in nitrogen it is very likely that there will be new imports(Agricultural News)
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