CROPPING

Urea prices likely to remain high

UREA prices have been on the rise recently due to increased demand and a hike in shipping costs.

Staff writer
 Urea prices are going to remain high according to Rabobank.

Urea prices are going to remain high according to Rabobank.

According to Rabobank's latest Agribusiness monthly report, it is unlikely there will be any price relief during winter or spring.

Rabobank's senior agricultural analyst, Wes Lefroy said the global fertiliser market found another gear in June with most process across the nutrient complex rising five to 20 per cent.

Late in June, the Free On Board (FOB) price for urea was $US450 while a month earlier it was $US390 and last year it was as low as $US218.

Locally, the urea market has jumped in some cases, $50 per tonne, in the past week or so and prices and nudging $700/tonne.

"Rabobank anticipates high prices are here to stay, especially if seasonal conditions continue to remain good," Lefroy said.

In a related podcast, Lefroy said although prices are climbing for fertiliser, farmers are not being ripped off.

"The three main factors adding pressure to local prices were a climbing global market, extremely strong local seasonal conditions and the global freight market," Lefroy said.

"Ocean freight costs are at record highs which can add as much as five per cent to farm gate prices.

"Australia relies heavily on urea imports (about 90 per cent of what is needed is imported) and that Australia only accounts for about two per cent of global urea consumption," Lefroy said.

Rabobank reported that this year is tracking at a high level in terms of Australian import of urea.

For the period January to the end of April in 2017, Australia imported about 585,000 tonnes of urea. For that same period this year, the amount was almost 900,000 tonnes.

To listen to the Rabobank podcast, visit https://spoti.fi/3hvsGi4.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

editions

Research Report: Sheds

Sheds play a vital role in farming, offering shelter and protection for people, machinery, livestock and valuable inputs like chemicals and fertiliser.

editions

Research Report: Harvest Weed Seed Mills

The Report includes a round up of commercially-available batching plants as well as farmer-made approaches.

editions

Research Report: Agritechnica 2023

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Ben White and Josh Giumelli went to Agritechnica, Germany. This report covers the key award winners from the event and some of the latest autonomous platforms displayed.

editions

Research Report: Fronting Up

This Research Report looks at harvester fronts including research and expertise from Kondinin Group’s Ben White, with input from harvesting specialists Brett Asphar, Kassie Van Der Westhuizen, Murray Skayman and Martin Reichelt.