From late December to the present three months, the price of potassium sulfate has fallen by 100-200 yuan (ton price, the same below). During this period, the average starting rate of Mannheim potassium sulfate industry is only 50%, which is much lower than 63% of the same period last year. The price of potassium sulfate is basically the same as that of the same period last year, but the price of potassium chloride is about 150 yuan higher. It can be seen that in the past three months, potassium sulfate manufacturers have experienced what. Fortunately, with the formal launch of the spring market, the market of potassium sulfate in some areas has gradually recovered.
According to Zhongfei, some low-end prices in Hebei, Shandong and Northeast China have rebounded slightly in recent days. Not long ago, the actual factory price of 52% water-soluble powder and 50% granular potassium sulfate in Hebei and Northeast China dropped to about 2800 yuan, but now the price of 2850 yuan is not considered by all manufacturers. Some factories whose inventory pressure is obviously relieved and the start-up rate is still low say that they will not take orders for the time being under 2900 yuan.
| Azodicarbonamide (AC foaming Agent) |
In addition, the word “export port” has appeared in the market of potassium sulfate. Customs data show that the export volume of potassium sulfate in January was 0.72 million tons, a sharp increase of 1700% compared with the same period last year. Although in fact that amount is still poor, but this growth rate is really shocked, so that the industry for zero tariff potassium sulfate exports generated more yearning. Whether it is 50% powder, 52% water-soluble powder, 50% granule or 50% ball, whether the export price is slightly higher or slightly lower than the domestic price, whether it is directly negotiated or mediated by traders… In short, “Export Port” has been disseminated and discussed by more and more industries, and the export volume has indeed continued to increase (the actual export volume may reach about 100,000 tons in the first quarter), which has played a positive role in the domestic market.
However, while the local low-end price rebound, the high prices in central, southern and southwestern China continue to fall, and the price of potassium sulfate in water-salt system is gradually falling, so it is too early to conclude that potassium sulfate should “rise from the dead”. First of all, demand is not strong, the threat of demand reduction still exists, inventory pressure is only eased, has not really lifted; secondly, the price of potassium chloride still has room to fall, and the overall situation of by-products is slightly better than the previous two years; thirdly, the production of potassium sulfate in water-salt system will be further restored after April; fourthly, although the export volume is considerable, the main benefit is that few exports are located. Advantage manufacturers.
So now we can only say that the market of potassium sulfate has improved, prices at both ends are concentrated in the middle, there is a possibility of stabilization, the pressure to continue to fall in the short term is weakened, and even there may be a partial tightening, rebound, but the overall price recovery is still lacking of strong supporting factors for the time being.
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