China surpassed Russia to become Brazil’s leading supplier of ammonium sulfate (SAM) and NP-based formulations between January and October 2025, according to the latest Insumos CNA bulletin. Chinese shipments reached 9.76 million tons, driven by a sharp acceleration in orders that clogged port operations along the year.
The surge created severe bottlenecks at the Port of Paranaguá, where vessel wait times averaged 60 days. The CNA said the buildup “created a significant logistical bottleneck, pressuring the port’s operational capacity and increasing costs and demurrage.”
Russia followed closely with 9.72 million tons shipped to Brazil over the same period, remaining a strategic supplier in the fertilizer chain. Domestic deliveries through August rose 9% year over year, and the CNA projects Brazil may set a new record in 2025. Purchases delayed by farmers in Rio Grande do Sul could drive a late-year spike in demand.
The bulletin also notes that exchange ratios remain unfavorable between major crops and phosphate-based fertilizers. In crop protection, fungicides saw the sharpest price increases due to intensified soybean management practices.