Brazil's ANDA seeks subsidy to offset sulphur price spike

Brazil’s National Association for the Diffusion of Fertilizers (ANDA) has proposed an emergency $375 million subsidy to shield farmers from soaring sulphur prices. The proposal was presented to the government during the International Brazil Congress in São Paulo on 25 August.
ANDA argues the measure is critical to prevent a significant drop in fertilizer application, which could lead to agricultural losses of up to R$30 billion. The call for support comes as the cost of sulphur, a key raw material for phosphate fertilizers, has skyrocketed.
CRU data shows that sulphur prices in Brazil have surged dramatically over the last 18 months. After holding steady at around $182/t CFR in early 2025, prices began to climb, ending the year at over $530/t CFR. The ascent steepened significantly in 2026, breaking the $1,000/t CFR mark in April and hitting a peak of $1,200/t CFR through June and early July – an increase of over 550% from the start of 2025. While the market has since softened from its peak, the latest price for the week ending 27 August was assessed at $1,075/t CFR.
The government has not yet responded to the subsidy proposal but has recently focused on providing credit lines to fertilizer producers and advancing its long-term domestic production plan, Profert.