The new year opens with some financial breathing room for American growers as fertilizer prices continue to soften for key nutrients. According to the latest survey from DTN, five out of eight major fertilizers showed price declines compared to the previous month, led by notable drops in DAP and MAP.

DAP fell 7% to an average of $847 per ton, while MAP dropped 5% to $877 per ton. These two dry fertilizers represent the most significant price movements and are providing early optimism for producers navigating a volatile input cost landscape. The declines mark the second consecutive weekly downturn for both products.

Other fertilizers that recorded modest price decreases included potash ($484/ton), urea ($567/ton), and UAN28 ($410/ton). These smaller adjustments still reflect an overall downward trend for nutrient pricing.

Meanwhile, three fertilizers posted slight price increases: 10-34-0 rose to $674/ton, anhydrous ammonia reached $869/ton, and UAN32 moved up to $465/ton. These movements, while not significant in scale, suggest that volatility is still a defining feature of the fertilizer market.

When viewed through a nitrogen efficiency lens, anhydrous ammonia remains the most cost-effective source at $0.53/lb.N, followed by urea at $0.62/lb.N, while both UAN28 and UAN32 stood at $0.73/lb.N.

Beyond domestic pricing dynamics, a recent economic outlook from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) highlights the ongoing influence of global instability on fertilizer markets. The report emphasized the impact of Chinese export restrictions, the Russia-Ukraine war, and persistent supply chain disruptions, all of which contributed to tight global nutrient supplies throughout 2025. That tightness is expected to continue into 2026.

"As global supplies look to remain tight, one of the major factors that could relieve - or spike - prices in 2026 is the status of the war in Ukraine," the NCGA report noted.

Despite the month-over-month relief, all fertilizers remain more expensive than they were a year ago. DAP is up 15%, MAP 8%, potash 9%, urea 16%, anhydrous 18%, UAN28 26%, and UAN32 27% over the same period last year. This underscores a continued challenge for growers managing long-term input costs against uncertain commodity markets.

The DTN Fertilizer Index, compiled from weekly retailer surveys, offers a snapshot of market conditions. Below is a detailed breakdown of recent price trends:

Dry Fertilizers - Retail Prices (USD/ton)

Liquid Fertilizers - Retail Prices (USD/ton)

As producers finalize their input strategies for spring planting, close monitoring of these market signals will be essential. Whether this early-year dip sets the tone for continued price relief - or proves to be a temporary correction - will depend heavily on global supply dynamics, weather patterns, and geopolitical developments in the months ahead.