availabilities. Urea imports by the United States were 19 percent higher in the first two months of 1998 compared to the same period in 1997 with main suppliers Canada and Qatar. Venezuela's urea and ammonia plants are back in operation and exports to other Latin American countries is expected to resume. India is awaiting the results of the Government decisions on import allocations and tender conditions; purchases of about 740 000 tonnes are foreseen for July-September.
Prices for ammonia supplies from the Black Sea, western Europe, and the United States have risen. The strengthening of US Gulf quotations is due to production problems in Trinidad and lower exports from Latin America. Although still some 50 percent lower than a year ago prices for ammonium sulphate from most origins increased in April. Albania, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka entered the market for the import of substantial amounts of ammonium sulphate
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Urea | ||||
eastern Europe | 90-94 | 97-99 | 132-135 | - 26.6 |
Near East | 88-100 | 106-109 | 154-161 | - 28.6 |
Ammonium Sulphate | ||||
eastern Europe | 18-30 | 24-33 | 68-71 | - 59.0 |
U.S. Gulf | 85-90 | 85-90 | 90-95 | - 5.4 |
western Europe | 36-40 | 40-45 | 80-85 | - 48.5 |
Far East | 46-50 | 54-60 | 106-108 | - 46.8 |
Diammonium Phosphate | ||||
Jordan | 210-216 | 210-216 | 213-216 | - 0.7 |
North Africa | 208-216 | 208-215 | 204-211 | + 1.9 |
U.S. Gulf | 195-197 | 201-203 | 194-197 | + 3.3 |
Triple Superphosphate | ||||
North Africa | 161-164 | 161-165 | 165-170 | - 2.7 |
U.S. Gulf | 169-173 | 173-175 | 172-176 | - |
Muriate of Potash | ||||
eastern Europe | 86-96 | 86-95 | 85-100 | - 2.2 |
Vancouver | 116-127 | 115-127 | 116-125 | + 0.4 |
western Europe | 125-134 | 126-136 | 112-117 | + 14.4 |
Prices of triple superphosphate (TSP) from North Africa remained stable, while there was a slight increase for suppliers from US Gulf. When compared to the same period last year, prices for the North African product are about 3 percent lower. Brazil is expected to enter the TSP market in June.
Average spot prices of muriate of potash (MOP) remained unchanged
in April. Compared to April 1997, however, prices are about 14 percent
higher in western Europe, but slightly lower in eastern Europe. In China,
in addition to the 1.3 million tonnes of imports secured earlier in the
year, further imports are expected. In the United States, the price of
potash imports increased in anticipation of higher domestic prices and
demand. In India, where MOP consumption increased from 1.7 million tonnes
in 1996/97 to 2.15 million tonnes in 1997/98 imports are being arranged
for delivery in April/September. Demand for potash in Brazil, Bangladesh,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka may support present levels of potash
prices.