Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Conflicts Drive Global Sulphur and Fertiliser Supply Crisis
Conflicts in West Asia and Russia-Ukraine are disrupting energy facilities.
Attacks on refineries have made fuel products more expensive.
U.S. diesel now costs more than $6.50 per gallon.
Sulphur, a byproduct of oil and gas processing, has also become much more expensive.
Sulphur is used to make sulphuric acid.
Sulphuric acid is needed to turn rock phosphate into fertiliser plants can absorb.
India has been able to obtain enough urea and liquefied natural gas.
However, shortages are making phosphatic and complex fertilisers harder to import and produce in India.
Brent crude is about $102 per barrel, nearly 55% above its level a year earlier.
Ukraine and Iran have targeted refineries with long-range drones and missiles, raising prices for refined products and byproducts.
U.S. diesel prices have exceeded $6.50 per gallon, up 76.2% year-on-year.
Sulphur prices have risen from $200 or less to at least $1,000 per tonne.
The sulphur shortage is constraining India’s imports and domestic production of phosphatic and complex fertilisers.
- Who
- Energy producers, fertiliser manufacturers and consumers, particularly in India, are affected.
- What
- Conflicts have triggered a sharp rise in fuel and sulphur prices, constraining phosphatic fertiliser supplies.
- When
- The article describes the current crisis and compares prices with levels a year earlier and previous peaks.
- Where
- The disruptions involve West Asia, Russia, Ukraine, the Persian Gulf region, the United States and India.
- Why
- Long-range drone and missile attacks have targeted energy infrastructure, reducing supplies of refinery byproducts such as sulphur.
- Brent crude price
- About $102 per barrel
- Annual Brent increase
- Nearly 55% above the previous year
- U.S. diesel price
- More than $6.50 per gallon
- Annual diesel increase
- 76.2% year-on-year
- Sulphur price
- At least $1,000 per tonne, compared with $200 or less in normal times
- Affected fertilisers
- Phosphatic and complex fertilisers, including single super phosphate and di-ammonium phosphate
- India’s relative supply position
- Urea and liquefied natural gas supplies have remained adequate, while phosphatic fertiliser supplies have been constrained