Brazil: the soaring cost of sulphur (+1,200 per cent in 20 months) threatens the fertiliser industry
Brazil is facing a severe sulphur shortage, with imports falling and costs 12 times higher
Brazil’s industrial sulphur stocks could run out in October, whilst prices for this raw material – which is essential for the production of agricultural fertilisers – have reached record levels on international markets.
This situation has been highlighted by the Trade Union of Raw Materials Industries for Fertilisers (Siprifert).
Sulphur is used to produce sulphuric acid, a component of fertilisers, but also in the chemical industry and in mineral processing.
Brazil is heavily dependent on imports: domestic production stands at around 200,000 tonnes, less than 10 per cent of domestic demand.
In the first half of 2026, imports fell by 42 per cent in volume, whilst expenditure rose by 60 per cent, reaching $380 million. The shortage is mainly linked to the decline in Russian production caused by the war in Ukraine and to increased demand from Indonesia, which has stepped up its domestic nickel refining – a process that requires sulphuric acid.
