Suppliers have told the Irish Farmers Journal that demand for fertiliser fell considerably since last week as weather turned sour.

One supplier noted that “the rain last weekend stopped play but it looks like sowing is going to start kicking off again at the weekend, so the rush is going to start soon.”

Many suppliers also noted how the pattern of fertiliser movements this year is opposite to the same period last year.

“Farmers took a lot of loads of fertiliser this year. The person buying some in dribs and drabs ended up taking loads of up to 20t and 25t due to the lower prices. These lads have plenty of fertiliser in their yards.”

The south

Suppliers in the south have already started to feel some movement in stocks as farmers begin to get back to grass after the weekend’s rain. Further north, however, merchants are still waiting patiently, with many hoping demand will be triggered early next week as temperatures and ground conditions look set to improve.

Fertiliser prices have remained steady for the last week. Urea is currently trading at €355/t to €375/t (collected). CAN has also shown very little change for the last seven days and prices being quoted lie in the range of €250/t to €270/t.

One supplier warned that nitrogen prices for new stocks are going to rise due to an increase in wholesaler’s prices. “Our suppliers have told us that new stocks of nitrogen will be €260/t. This is a rise from the last stocks we received which were down at €230/t. This will mean the price for farmers will rise as well.”

Compounds

Compound fertilisers showed little or no change. 18:6:12 is selling for €345/t to €365/t. Pasture sward and cut sward are averaging €355/t and €365/t, respectively.

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