In the final week of July, U.S. retail fertilizer prices showed a mixed bag, with four products increasing and three declining, according to data from DTN's Fertilizer Index. For the seventh consecutive week, no fertilizer moved by more than 5%, a threshold DTN uses to define significant price shifts.

The biggest movement came from MAP (monoammonium phosphate), which rose 4% to an average of $881 per ton, up from $846 last month. UAN28 (urea ammonium nitrate 28%) also climbed, gaining $6 to hit $419/ton, while potash rose modestly by $2 to $483/ton. DAP (diammonium phosphate) inched up $1 to $811/ton.

On the downside, urea saw the steepest drop, falling $11 to $645/ton. Anhydrous ammonia slipped $6 to $764/ton, and UAN32 dropped $3 to $497/ton. The price of 10-34-0 remained flat at $672/ton.

When calculated per pound of nitrogen, average retail prices stood at: urea at $0.70/lb.N, anhydrous at $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 at $0.75/lb.N, and UAN32 at $0.78/lb.N.

Infrastructure Investment Signals Long-Term Shift

Amid the price fluctuations, Superior Ag, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Indiana, broke ground last week on a $20 million dry fertilizer terminal on the Ohio River near Rockport. When completed, the facility will have a 32,000-ton capacity and is expected to become one of the Midwest's key fertilizer distribution centers.

The terminal will serve growers across southwest Indiana, north-central Kentucky, and parts of Illinois. According to the cooperative, the site will include:

• 10 bulk storage hoppers for different formulations

• A 600 TPH barge-unloading system

• A 300 TPH truck-receiving line

• Automated blending and loading technologies for efficiency and product consistency

These developments underscore efforts by ag co-ops to strengthen regional supply chains and improve logistics for input delivery during high-demand periods.

Year-over-Year Comparisons Highlight Steady Climb

Compared to July 2024, seven of the eight fertilizers tracked by DTN show higher prices:

• MAP: +8%

• DAP: +9%

• UAN28: +24%

• UAN32: +32%

• Urea: +28%

• Anhydrous ammonia: +13%

• 10-34-0: +5%

Only potash remains cheaper than last year, down 4% year-over-year.

What It Means for U.S. Producers

Fertilizer prices have stabilized somewhat in recent months, but the market still reflects seasonal volatility, global supply pressures, and logistical constraints. With harvest on the horizon, input cost management remains critical for farm profitability.

The rise in MAP and UAN28 could signal tightening phosphate and nitrogen supplies, while the dip in urea and anhydrous may reflect seasonal adjustments or reduced international demand.

For now, U.S. growers face a landscape of cautious optimism, where input pricing remains unpredictable, yet critical infrastructure investments hint at long-term improvements in availability and efficiency.