Platts launches daily conventional and low-carbon FOB US Gulf ammonia assessments Nov. 1

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has launched daily FOB US Gulf ammonia and FOB US Gulf low-carbon ammonia assessments effective Nov. 1, 2024.

In view of increased export availability, Platts launched a daily (Monday-Friday) single number spot assessment of FOB market for conventional ammonia in the US Gulf Coast.

Platts has also launched a daily (Monday-Friday) single number spot assessment of the FOB market for low-carbon ammonia in the US Gulf Coast, where low-carbon ammonia capacities are due to ramp up owing to Inflation Reduction Act-related investment.

In each case, the assessments consider price information relating to ammonia from producers along the US Gulf Coast, with relevant price information normalized where necessary to a basis location of Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The assessments may also consider netbacks from relevant destination markets.

The basis cargo size for both the assessments is 25,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized where necessary to this point.

In the case of the daily low-carbon US Gulf Ammonia Price (UGAP), a maximum carbon intensity of 0.87 kg CO2eq/kg ammonia well to gate is reflected -- in line with feedback from the market and minimum expectations of carbon intensity from Japan, a key destination of low-carbon ammonia.

The prices are assessed daily on a 1630 São Paulo timestamp and will follow the São Paulo publishing calendar. The assessments appear in Platts Fertecon Daily and Platts Connect. The daily assessment for conventional ammonia will also be published in the weekly Ammonia Market Report on Thursdays.

The assessments have the following specifications and symbol codes:

• Assessment Name: Ammonia FOB US Gulf
  • Assessment Symbol(s): AFUSG00, AFUSG03 (monthly average)
  • Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% nitrogen and is stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity
  • Quantity: Basis 25,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point
  • Basis and location: Basis port Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Other loading ports in Texas and Louisiana will also be considered and normalized where necessary for assessment purposes
  • Timing: Loading one to six weeks forward
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Appears in: Platts Fertecon Daily, Ammonia Market Report
  • Unit of assessment: US dollars per metric ton
  • Timestamp: 1630 São Paulo, following the São Paulo publishing calendar

• Assessment Name: US Gulf Ammonia Price (UGAP)
  • Assessment Symbol(s): AFUSH00, AFUSH03 (monthly average)
  • Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% nitrogen and is stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius
  • Quantity: Basis 25,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point
  • Basis and location: Basis port Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Other loading ports in Texas and Louisiana will also be considered and normalized where necessary for assessment purposes
  • Carbon Intensity: Maximum 0.87 kg CO2eq/kg ammonia well to gate
  • Timing: Loading one to six weeks forward
  • Frequency: DailyAppears in: Platts Fertecon Daily
  • Unit of assessment: US dollars per metric ton
  • Timestamp: 1630 São Paulo, following the São Paulo publishing calendar

The decision to launch daily FOB US Gulf ammonia and FOB US Gulf low-carbon ammonia (UGAP) assessments was announced Oct. 4 in a subscriber note published here, following a proposal published Sept. 11, 2024 available here.

Please send any feedback, questions and comments to fertilizer@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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