Fertilizer prices in 2015

George Silva, Michigan State University Extension - December 30, 2015

The current retail prices of all major fertilizers are noticeably lower compared to prices one year ago, according to USDA statistics.

The approximate retail prices for bulk purchases of major fertilizers per ton, published in the Dec. 10, 2015, “USDA Illinois Department of Agriculture Market News Report,” compared to corresponding prices one year ago are shown in the table below. The current prices are noticeably lower compared to prices one year ago.

Retail prices for bulk purchases of major fertilizers in dollars per ton in 2015 compared to 2014.
Fertilizer Source	December 2015	December 2014
Diammonium phosphate (DAP)	536	555
Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)	553	583
Potash	414	477
Urea	393	455
Urea-Ammonium Nitrate (UAN 28%)	293	335
Anhydrous ammonia	650	728

The monthly price trends from January-December 2015 are shown in the figure below. Generally, fertilizer prices are higher during the growing season and lower during the off-season. Given the fact that fertilizer is the single biggest input cost for corn production, Michigan State University Extension recommends producers be aware of price fluctuations over time and take advantage of purchasing options. Industry experts believe that despite the fertilizer market stability, any unforeseen changes in global demand or supply may cause dramatic price shifts.

Fertilizer prices ($/ton) from January-December 2015 (Big Three)

2015 fertilizer prices

Data source: USDA-Illinois Dept. of Ag Market News Springfield, Illinois, cash prices for bulk purchases, granular form unless noted.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).