Kazakhstan export disruptions push sulfur prices to $522 per tonne
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Sulfur prices surged to $522 per tonne in the second quarter, driven by Kazakhstan's export disruptions following drone attacks on tankers in the Black Sea. Mosaic Co., the largest U.S. phosphate fertilizer producer, reported a $104 million loss due to soaring sulfur costs and supply challenges. The global sulfur supply remains tight as almost half of seaborne trade is affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea attacks.
Sulfur Costs Surge
Sulfur prices reached $522 per tonne in Q2 2026, up from $379 in Q1, driven by supply constraints. Mosaic Co. took a $104 million loss, with one plant idled and another at 40% capacity. CEO Bruce Bodine said the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the blockade of Kazakhstan are keeping spot prices volatile and elevated. Almost half of global seaborne sulfur trade passes through the affected regions.
Kazakhstan Drone Attacks
Drone attacks on tankers in the Black Sea have shut down shipments of Kazakh crude and sulfur through the CPC terminal repeatedly. Sulfur, a byproduct of oil extraction at major fields, cannot be exported steadily. The latest shipment resumption was halted again on the eve of the report. These disruptions compound the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure, which already slashed sulfur availability from the Middle East.
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