Sulphur Fertilizers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Sulphate Fertilizers, Elemental Sulphur Fertilizers, Sulphates of Micronutrients and Others), By Formulation (Liquid and Dry), By Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Fruits & Vegetables and Others), By Application Method (Band, Broadcast, Seed Row, Foliar and Others), By Region and Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Sulphur Fertilizers Market, valued at USD 5.52 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 4.46% to reach USD 7.17 Billion by 2030. Sulphur fertilizers are essential soil amendments that deliver sulphur, primarily in sulfate or elemental forms, which plants readily absorb to facilitate vital physiological processes such as protein synthesis, enzyme activity, and chlorophyll production, thereby enhancing overall crop vitality and yield. The market's expansion is significantly driven by increasing global soil sulphur deficiencies, which stem from reduced atmospheric deposition and intensive agricultural practices. Furthermore, the rising global demand for food, propelled by population growth, necessitates higher agricultural productivity and optimized crop yields, underscoring sulphur's critical role in efficient nutrient utilization.

According to the U. S. Geological Survey, elemental sulphur production in the United States was estimated at 8.0 million tons in 2023, reflecting stable output compared to the preceding year, though domestic phosphate rock consumption increased, leading to higher sulphur usage in phosphate fertilizer processing. A significant challenge impeding market growth is the inherent volatility in sulphur raw material prices, which can impact production costs and overall market stability.

Key Market Drivers

The global sulphur fertilizers market is significantly propelled by increasing soil sulfur deficiency and the rising global demand for food, which necessitates high-yield crops. Soil sulfur deficiency has become more prevalent due to reduced atmospheric deposition and intensive agricultural practices that deplete essential nutrients. This deficiency directly impedes crop productivity and quality, driving the need for external sulfur application. For instance, according to MDPI, in October 2024, "Optimizing Sulfur Fertilization for Enhanced Physiological Performance, Grain Filling Characteristics, and Grain Yield of High-Yielding Winter Wheat Under Drip Irrigation", sulfur fertilization increased winter wheat yields by up to 18.26% in the 2022-2023 growing season compared to untreated plots, highlighting sulphur's critical role in maximizing crop output under deficient conditions. Simultaneously, the escalating global population continues to drive an urgent need for greater food production. Farmers worldwide are under pressure to optimize crop yields from existing arable land, making efficient nutrient management, including sulphur, indispensable. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in July 2024, "Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033", global food consumption is projected to increase by 1.2% annually over the next decade, underscoring the continuous demand for enhanced agricultural productivity.

These foundational drivers create a robust demand environment for sulphur fertilizers, as their application directly addresses soil fertility challenges and supports the intensive cultivation required to meet global food security objectives. The market's trajectory is further influenced by broader agricultural trends. For example, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in June 2024, "Spotlight on Sulfur", U. S. corn acreage increased to 86.5 million acres in 2023. Such expansion in the cultivation of major crops, which are often responsive to sulphur, inherently elevates the consumption of sulphur fertilizers. This integrated influence of soil health degradation and persistent food demand ensures a sustained and growing market for sulphur-based nutrient solutions essential for modern agriculture.

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Key Market Challenges

The inherent volatility in sulphur raw material prices presents a significant challenge for the global sulphur fertilizers market. Unpredictable fluctuations in the cost of elemental sulphur, a primary input, directly complicate production planning and financial forecasting for manufacturers. This instability in raw material expenditure impacts operational efficiency and compresses profit margins, making it difficult for producers to make sustained long-term investments in capacity expansion or technological improvements.

Such unpredictable cost structures translate into inconsistent pricing for downstream agricultural producers, creating uncertainty in their input budgets and potentially influencing their adoption rates of sulphur fertilizers. According to the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), nitrogenous fertilizers, which include sulphur-containing products like ammonium sulphate, averaged USD 291 per tonne in January–October 2024, marking a 10.0 percent decrease from USD 321 per tonne recorded in the same interval of 2023. This demonstrates significant price shifts within the broader fertilizer sector, reflecting the underlying raw material cost volatility that hinders market stability and growth.

Key Market Trends

The market is experiencing a significant trend in Enhanced Efficiency and Controlled-Release Fertilizer Technologies, which is driven by the need for optimized nutrient delivery and reduced environmental impact. These advanced formulations, including sulfur, are designed to improve nutrient uptake by crops and minimize losses through leaching or volatilization. The Fertilizer Institute’s 2023 Fertilizer Industry Sustainability Report highlights that companies invested an average of $1.19 billion annually from 2019 through 2021 in capital investments aimed at increasing production efficiencies and reducing energy and water use. This commitment to innovation enables sulfur to be released in a more controlled manner, better synchronizing with the plant’s absorption cycle. For example, according to Yara International, in March 2025, the company was launching a new line of sulfur-coated urea fertilizers specifically developed to enhance nutrient efficiency and minimize environmental impact. This technological evolution supports greater crop productivity and contributes to more resource-efficient agricultural practices.

Another prominent trend is the Increasing Adoption of Sustainable and Organic Agricultural Practices, which shapes the demand for specific sulfur fertilizer solutions. This shift is motivated by growing environmental concerns, consumer preferences for organic produce, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Such practices emphasize maintaining soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing the ecological footprint of farming. The Fertilizer Institute’s Sustainability Insights indicate that utilizing 4R nutrient stewardship, which encompasses optimized fertilizer application, led to a 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) per acre between 2017 and 2022 by advocate farmers. This demonstrates the tangible environmental benefits achieved through sustainable fertilizer management. In response to this trend, The Mosaic Company upgraded its production facilities in late 2024 to increase sulfur fertilizer output as part of its broader sustainability initiatives. This strategic adaptation reflects the market's move towards environmentally conscious farming methods.

Segmental Insights

The Global Sulphur Fertilizers Market is observing substantial growth, with sulphate fertilizers identified as the fastest-growing segment. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by increasing global awareness among agricultural stakeholders regarding prevalent sulphur deficiencies in soils, which significantly impacts crop productivity and quality. Sulphate fertilizers offer readily available sulphur in a form directly usable by plants, crucial for essential metabolic processes such as protein synthesis, enzyme activation, and nitrogen utilization. This direct nutrient availability, coupled with the need for balanced fertilization to maximize yields in key crops like oilseeds and pulses, underpins the segment's accelerated growth in modern agriculture.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the global sulphur fertilizers market due to its extensive agricultural base and high demand for food production driven by a large and growing population. Widespread soil sulfur deficiencies across the region necessitate the increased application of sulphur fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity. Key agricultural countries such as China and India contribute significantly to this demand through intensive farming practices and the cultivation of sulfur-intensive crops like oilseeds and cereals. Furthermore, government initiatives promoting balanced fertilization and sustainable agricultural practices actively support the adoption of sulphur fertilizers in the region.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, ICL launched "Sulfurball," an innovative sulfur-based fertilizer designed with a distinctive spherical granule shape. This new product marked its debut in Brazil and across the broader Latin American market. The primary aim of this development was to facilitate more uniform fertilizer spreading, which could lead to reduced application costs for agricultural producers. Additionally, the unique spherical form was engineered to improve the efficiency of sulfur absorption by crops such as soybeans and corn, thereby enhancing nutrient utilization.

• In March 2025, Coromandel International Limited announced the inauguration of its second sulfur manufacturing plant, situated at its Visakhapatnam facility in Andhra Pradesh, India. This strategic expansion effectively doubled the company's capacity for producing sulfur fertilizers to 50,000 metric tons annually. The new facility was equipped with advanced German technology to fortify sulfur fertilizers with various micronutrients, specifically addressing evolving nutrient deficiencies in Indian soils. This initiative was undertaken to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality bentonite sulfur fertilizers to the farming community.

• In November 2024, OCP Nutricrops, a subsidiary of OCP Group, entered a significant long-term collaboration with QatarEnergy. This agreement stipulated that QatarEnergy would supply up to 7.5 million tons of sulfur to OCP Nutricrops over a period of ten years, with deliveries commencing in the third quarter of 2024. The partnership was established to support OCP Nutricrops' mission of delivering sustainable and customized plant nutrition solutions to farmers globally. Sulfur is a vital raw material for the production of phosphate-based fertilizers, crucial for enhancing soil health and optimizing crop yields.

• In 2024, Yara International commenced the launch of a new line of sulphur-coated urea fertilizers. This introduction was a direct outcome of the company's ongoing efforts in crop nutrition research and development. The new formulations were designed to improve nutrient efficiency in agricultural applications while simultaneously working to minimize environmental impact. These sulphur-coated urea fertilizers were developed to provide a controlled release of essential nutrients, supporting sustained plant growth and contributing to more effective and environmentally responsible farming practices globally.

Key Market Players

• Nufarm Australia Limited
• Haifa Group
• K+S Aktiengesellschaft
• The Mosaic Company
• Coromandel International Limited
• Yara International ASA
• Nutrien Ag Solutions Ltd.
• Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited
• ICL Group Ltd.
• Koch Industries, Inc.

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Sulphur Fertilizers Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Sulphur Fertilizers Market, By Type:

o   Sulphate Fertilizers

o   Elemental Sulphur Fertilizers

o   Sulphates of Micronutrients

o   Others

• Sulphur Fertilizers Market, By Formulation:

o   Liquid

o   Dry

• Sulphur Fertilizers Market, By Crop Type:

o   Cereals & Grains

o   Oilseeds & Pulses

o   Fruits & Vegetables

o   Others

• Sulphur Fertilizers Market, By Application Method:

o   Band

o   Broadcast

o   Seed Row

o   Foliar

o   Others

• Sulphur Fertilizers Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Sulphur Fertilizers Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Sulphur Fertilizers Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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