A Look at Potash Prices in the Week Ending January 19

Potash prices remained strong in the week ending January 19. Last week, the prices at four locations discussed in this series were broadly flat to positive.

In Brazil, potash prices rose by as much as 2.5% week-over-week to $288 per metric ton from $281 per metric ton. In NOLA (New Orleans), potash prices rose 0.9% week-over-week to $213 per metric ton from $211 per metric ton a week ago.

In the Cornbelt region of the US, potash prices stayed flat at $242 per metric ton, continuing their three-week streak of moving sideways. In the Southeast Asia region, potash prices also stayed flat at $259 per metric ton.

Year-over-year, potash prices remained comfortably higher. For example, in Brazil, potash prices rose as much as 20% year-over-year from $241 per metric ton and in NOLA, prices rose 10% year-over-year from $193 per metric ton.

Similarly, in the Cornbelt region of the US, potash prices rose 8% year-over-year from $247 per metric ton. In Southeast Asia, prices were up 8% year-over-year from $243 per metric ton last week.

The strength in prices should reflect in the earnings and margins of potash producers (MOO) such as Nutrien (NTR), Mosaic (MOS), Intrepid Potash (IPI), and Israel Chemicals (ICL).