Traditionally, U.S. exports of urea, anhydrous, and UAN fertilizer products have been low as consumption in the U.S. has exceeded production capabilities. These have typically been restricted to Canadian exports by rail in smaller quantities. From January of 2012 up until May of 2017, Genscape saw that the total exports of urea were only at 1,701 metric tons, which is not even close to what one vessel can export (Figure 1 below).
With increased production in the U.S., however, interest has turned to exports of nitrogen fertilizer products, especially during the slower demand months of July to September. Genscape has heard this increased interest from clients and as a result has begun to monitor U.S. exports of nitrogen products. Genscape has recently seen a sudden surge of apparent exports coming out of the CF Industries Docks in Donaldsonville, Louisiana (Figure 2 below). Just in the last week, three chemical tankers have entered the CF docks empty and left full to Brazil, France, and Argentina. Genscape also saw that the first bulk carrier left for Chile from Donaldsonville in June. Another vessel, the Hupeh, a 180 meter bulk carrier with a dead total weight of 39,733 metric tons just pulled into the CF Donaldsonville berths today (July 13).
Using our industry leading Vesseltracker™ AIS ship tracking data and our detailed GIS database, we will continue to monitor and report these exports exclusively to our clients. To learn more, or to request a trial of Genscape’s U.S. Fertilizer Production and Transportation Report, please click here.