DAP Leads Fertilizer Prices Higher in First Week of May

OMAHA (DTN) — Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first full week of May 2026 continue to move higher.

All eight major fertilizers are more expensive compared to a month earlier. However, only one major fertilizer had a sizable price increase compared to the prior month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

DAP was up 6% from the previous month. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $914 per ton.

The remaining seven fertilizers were just slightly more expensive compared to last month. MAP had an average price of $942 per ton, potash was $493/ton, urea $865/ton, 10-34-0 $722/ton, anhydrous $1,118/ton, UAN28 $530/ton and UAN32 $596/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.94/lb.N, anhydrous $0.68/lb.N, UAN28 $0.95/lb.N and UAN32 $0.93/lb.N.

Fertilizer costs have risen significantly following the beginning of the conflict with Iran, according to an article titled “Fertilizer Cost Increases Resulting From the Iran Conflict” in the farmdoc Daily e-newsletter from the University of Illinois (https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2026/05/fertilizer-cost-increases-resulting-from-the-iran-conflict.html).

The impact of higher fertilizer prices varies across farms, depending on the timing of fertilizer purchases and the type of nitrogen fertilizer used. Farms that purchased prior to February will see limited effects on 2026 production costs, but farmers who did not lock in fertilizer costs will see higher nutrient costs in 2026.

All farmers are expected to face significantly higher fertilizer costs for the 2027 crop.

Farmers with unpriced nitrogen may consider switching acres from corn to soybeans to reduce nitrogen costs. Also, farmers should consider lowering nitrogen application rates if their rates are above maximum return-to-nitrogen rates.

“All farmers will face the brunt of higher (fertilizer) prices in 2027, leading to consideration of adjustments such as lowering application rates, switching to anhydrous ammonia and moving application to post-plant,” the report said. “Moreover, another round of inflation in all farm inputs should be anticipated for 2027.”

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier.

Potash is 4% higher, 10-34-0 is 9% more expensive, MAP is 14% higher, DAP is 16% more expensive, UAN32 is 23% higher, UAN28 is 30% more expensive, urea is 39% higher and anhydrous is 43% more expensive, looking back to last year.

DTN gathers fertilizer price bids from agriculture retailers each week to compile the DTN Fertilizer Index. DTN first began reporting data in November 2008.

In addition to national averages, MyDTN subscribers can access the full DTN Fertilizer Index, which includes state averages, here: https://www.mydtn.com/agriculture/web/ag/markets/fuels-fertilizers#!/fertilizers.

Higher retail fertilizer prices have caused fertilizer companies’ stocks to rise considerably, according to a recent Dow Jones article. You can read about here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2026/05/06/uan-anhydrous-lead-fertilizer-prices.

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

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