Re: Hey My Query?
in response to
by
posted on
Jan 19, 2010 02:33PM
Not sure what the phosphate price is going to be, but it should trend higher based on comments from Mosaic (http://ir.mosaicco.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70455&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1371024&highlight=):
"Phosphate demand is rebounding, and we expect strong sales volume through fiscal 2010. Although potash orders remained soft, sales activity picked up toward the end of the quarter and we see this trend continuing into calendar 2010. We are confident that Mosaic will benefit as the agricultural community invests in nutrients to meet the world's growing demand for food.
We continue to see signs of global economic recovery, including favorable demand trends, attractive grain prices, lower input costs and growing customer confidence. We are pleased to see that nutrient markets are beginning to rebound worldwide. The demand for phosphate is growing, and we are confident that demand for potash will resume as farmers increase crop nutrient applications. Mosaic is well positioned to benefit as the need for our products accelerates."
and from their Q2 earnings (http://ir.mosaicco.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70455&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1370991&highlight=):
The average second quarter DAP selling price, FOB plant, was $287 per tonne, compared to $1,086 a year ago and $278 per tonne in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.
Phosphates segment sales volumes were higher than a year ago at 3.3 million tonnes and improved 15% sequentially from the first quarter of fiscal 2010. International sales volumes of crop nutrients increased over one million tonnes from year ago levels, primarily due to strong demand from India.
Mosaic's North American phosphate production level was 2.0 million tonnes during the second quarter, an increase of 49% from year ago levels in response to increased demand.
"Phosphate sales volumes have returned to more normal levels," stated Prokopanko. "We look for improved gross margins in calendar 2010, though margin expansion may be constrained by higher raw material costs and the normal lag between our average realized prices and prevailing market prices."
Market Outlook
The phosphate market began to recover during the quarter, especially in Asia and the Americas, as distributors purchased crop nutrients to meet farmer demand. Since the end of the second quarter, the average price for DAP has continued to strengthen. As of early January, prevailing market DAP selling prices, FOB plant, approximate $370 per tonne (or $380 per tonne FOB Tampa).