--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260805-itafos-sulfur-shortage-crisis-2027-warning/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Itafos CEO warns sulfur shortage could stretch into 2027 as 45% of global trade remains blocked Publication Date: 2026-08-05T13:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-08-05T02:02:44-04:00 Author: Kim Clarksen (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/kimclarksen/) Categories: [Markets](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/), [Phosphate](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/phosphate/), [Production & Supply](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/production/) ![Sulfur (S) periodic table 16 element](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sulfur-s-periodic-table-16-element-stockpack-istock-scaled.jpg) David Delaney says phosphate plants worldwide are running below capacity, with no quick resolution to Hormuz bottleneck in sight. Itafos CEO David Delaney warned that the global sulfur shortage could persist into 2027, describing the fertilizer supply chain as being in "a crisis, no doubt about it" during a recent interview with Agriculture of America. Delaney said roughly 45% of globally traded sulfur remains stuck behind the Strait of Hormuz, where the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has halted most shipping since early 2026. Russian sulfur exports have also stopped after drone strikes damaged refinery infrastructure. The sulfur bottleneck is the binding constraint on global phosphate production. Sulfuric acid is required to convert phosphate rock into usable fertilizer, and without adequate sulfur supply, phosphate plants worldwide are running well below capacity. Delaney said the situation has worsened over the past month, not improved. Itafos operates out of southeast Idaho, producing roughly 350,000 metric tons of P2O5 annually across monoammonium phosphate and superphosphoric acid. The company [secured its own sulfuric acid supply by amending a long-term contract with Rio Tinto](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260521-itafos-and-rio-tinto-amend-sulfuric-acid-supply-contract-through-2029-to-steady-u-s-phosphate-production-costs/) earlier this year. Delaney said building meaningful new domestic phosphate capacity would cost roughly $2 billion per facility, while a world-scale ammonia-urea plant would run closer to $3 billion. He noted that U.S. phosphate capacity has contracted from 22 facilities in 1990 to 10 today, and from 16 companies to four. Improved new-crop pricing — with December 2027 corn near $5, November 2027 soybeans near $12 and July wheat near $8 — could help offset some of the cost squeeze for farmers, Delaney said. Source: [Dakota News Network](https://www.dakotanewsnetwork.com/2026/07/28/fertilizer-ceo-warns-sulfur-shortage-could-stretch-into-2027/) Tags: [Itafos](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/itafos/), [MAP](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/map/), [phosphate](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/phosphate/), [Strait of Hormuz](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/strait-of-hormuz/), [sulfur](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/sulfur/), [sulfuric acid](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/sulfuric-acid/), [United States](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/united-states/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.