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OCTOBER’S NITROGEN price remains unchanged, but supplies are limited and manufacturers already find themselves under pressure to issue a November price. Although there is no stampede to buy

nitrogen, merchants and salesmen are anxious to ensure that regular early buyers are covered. But such is the volatility of raw material prices – particularly gas – that manufacturers are

not keen to commit. The autumn is, of course, the period when gas spot prices start to move from a summer low towards the winter peak. Importers are also playing a waiting game, until

prospects for the spring price become clearer. Cargoes are expected before Christmas and availability is improving. Not surprisingly, farmers are currently preoccupied with harvest, the size

and quality of which together with subsequent planting volumes will be the next indicators for this season’s nitrogen market. The question is whether the prospect of a spring nitrogen price

in excess of £160/t will significantly alter sowing patterns. Agronomic calculations suggest it should not, but there are concerns that £160/t is perilously close to what the market will

stand. Real prospects for the 2005/2006 season will only start to emerge once autumn sowing patterns are known, but it will be the later-buying grass farmer who will be hardest hit. CURRENT

PRICES (£/T) GREAT BRITAIN Straight Domestic N (34.5%N) SP5 _Oct £152-155_ Imported AN  Lithuanian & Bulgarian _£135 where available_ Imported urea _£195_ _granular_ _£195 prills (where

available)_ Liquid UAN 37kg/100litres (29.6%N/t) _No market_ TSP (47%P2O5) _£145_ Muriate of Potash(60%K2O) _£133_ Compound   Complex Blended 25.5.5 _£144-147_ _From £138_ 15.15.20

_£163-168_   20.10.10 / 27.5.5 _£147-149_ _From £140_ 17.17.17 _£168-173_   Aftercuts NK   _£144_ 27.6.6 (imported)     32.5.0 (imported) _£136-138_ Autumn grades (PK)   _£133-135_ Trace

elements _Copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt Iodine and sodium_ _£11.10/acre pack_ ------------------------- IRELAND Straight and compound Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland† Urea _No market_

_No market_ CAN _£132_ _€162+_ 24.6.12 aftercut* _No market_ _No market_ 25.5.5 _£152_ 27.6.6 complex** _£162_ _€230-245+ (CCF) €230-235 import blend_ †_Note in the Republic of Ireland

nutrients are expressed as elements not oxides.  Analyses will not be directly comparable with those used in the UK._ *Known as 24.2½.10 blend in the Republic of Ireland **Known as 27.2½.5

in ROI _Note All illustrated prices are based upon 24 tonne loads for immediate payment. Prices for smaller loads and those with credit terms will vary considerably._ _Source: Bridgewater_