Tillage and dairy farmers are starting to price fertilisers, although the heavy rain this week means little is actually moving from sellers’ yards.

Prices have not settled down. They are generally opening €30/t to €40/t below last year.

In Leinster, CAN in large bags is being quoted at €240/t to €250/t, delivered, depending on order size and payment terms. Sulcan is €250/t to €260/t.

Granulated urea is at €340/t to €350/t. There are no reports of boatloads of urea arriving until the end of this month.

Among the compounds, 10-10-20 is opening at €370/t to €380/t and 18-6-12 at €350/t to €360/t, again all in large bags, delivered.

Sellers report plenty of enquiries from tillage and dairy farmers about protected urea products

Opening prices in Connacht from bigger outlets are similar. CAN is at €250/t, 18-6-12 €350/t, 27-2.5-5 €350/t and urea €350/t.

In Munster, one of the larger suppliers is quoting €240/t to €247/t for CAN, urea €340/t to €347/t, 18-6-2 at €340/t to €347/t and 10-10-20 at €370/t to €377/t.

Sellers report plenty of enquiries from tillage and dairy farmers about protected urea products with farmers interested in both the higher efficiency and the greenhouse gas benefits.

Quotes for 46% protected urea are opening at €380/t to €390/t while a 38% protected urea with 7% sulphur is quoted at about €350/t.

Northern Ireland

Early reports on the fertiliser trade in Northern Ireland indicate CAN is trading at £190 to £195/t (€223 to €229), down £30 (€35) on last spring.

Urea is moving around £270/t (€317), down £60/t (€70) on the year, with compound NPK products moving at a similar price.