The Sulfur Crisis Threatening the World's Food Supply

Sulfur has become an essential element for modern industrial systems, including agriculture. Before the Iran war, 24 percent of the world's sulfur supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz. It is unclear if this is still the case now, with the Iranian government claiming control of the strait. The price of sulfur from the Middle East soared from $500 to over $800 per metric ton, with some customers paying more than $1,000 in June, a record high.

This price surge poses a threat to worldwide phosphate fertilizer supplies, which rely on sulfuric acid for production. Sulfur plays a crucial role in various industries such as gasoline production, detergents, resins, explosives, metal pickling, lead-acid batteries, electrolytes, laboratory reagents, and phosphate fertilizer production, which is vital for high-yield agriculture.

Approximately 50 percent of all sulfuric acid is used to manufacture fertilizers. The Iran war has disrupted the supply of sulfur, nitrogen fertilizer, and natural gas from Persian Gulf countries currently involved in the conflict. The fertilizer and fuel price hikes occur as the world heads into what may be the worst El Nino ever recorded, potentially leading to lower global food output.