Support the alternatives

This Country seems keen to court Russia for oil and gas, but restricts its` fertilisers with duties of up to $56.00. Russian Ammonium Nitrate could be supplied at less than £120.00 if allowed to compete on a level playing field. It appears to be a case of we’ll buy your gas because you can produce cheaper than us, but we don’t want your fertilisers! The EU duties had all but stopped Russian exports to Western Europe, at a time when UK farming desperately needs to reduce costs. The ironic position today is that despite the duties, Russian AN can again compete.

High shipping rates are limiting the options for imports, leaving us to rely on short haul cargoes of AN and Prilled Urea from Lithuania, Poland or Russia, or large Granular Urea cargoes from further a field (Venezuela, Egypt, Bangladesh)

Good quality imported AN is the best buy, with today’s prices over £10 per tonne below domestic AN. The ones to buy are, the consistent Lithuanian AN from Achema and closely followed by Polish from Pulawy. Product will be limited, by available licensed storage and the exporting countries own domestic market, supported by new EU money.

£150+ for domestic AN has handed the advantage back to Granular

Urea at close to £3.60 per unit/N, rather than the AN at nearer £4.50. Of the origins recently arrived to the UK, the benchmark for superior 24 metre Granular Urea quality remains the German Piesteritz, Dutch Sluiskil, Egyptian EFC and Venezuelan Fertinitro. The variable granular size of some other origins, must question their spread ability. The earlier prices for quality Granular Urea may have gone and spring offers may be limited, with a substantial order book still to be delivered.

Gas prices for next quarter look set to firm, and may cause nitrogen production output to be reduced, but this will probably be offset against the anticipated lower spring demand. These factors, may have set the market in terms of price, but may result in availability problems.

Simon Sands – SJS Agriculture Ltd – For prices call

01724 279924 Anytime

Dealing in quality guaranteed Fertilisers.

AN – Granular & Prilled Urea – Blends – Straights