LaycanDeskSulphur freight to Brazil - the US Gulf and Vancouver to Santos, Paranagua and Rio Grande
Formed sulphur for the superphosphate and phosphoric acid plants behind Santos, Paranagua and Rio Grande, on Supramax to Panamax tonnage into private fertilizer terminals. Brazil imported 2.32 million tonnes of sulphur in 2025 and took 41 percent of it from inside the Gulf (UN Comtrade); the Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted since 28 February 2026, leaving about 79,000 tonnes a month to replace. The United States is already the largest origin and Vancouver the second open one. The desk works the lane on the terminal's berth draft at Santos or Paranagua and the buyer's tender lot.
Brazil burns imported sulphur to make the acid for single superphosphate and for MAP, and almost all of it goes to fertilizer. It imported 2.39 million tonnes in 2024 and 2.32 million in 2025, when the United States supplied 567,500 tonnes and Canada 126,000, against 368,300 from Saudi Arabia, 293,400 from the UAE, 249,300 from Qatar and 42,000 from Kuwait (UN Comtrade). The US Gulf to Santos is the established run, and Vancouver, which shipped 3.5 million tonnes of sulphur in 2025, names Brazil among its destinations; India sent its first cargo to Brazil in two years in 2026. The market the ships sail into has changed: the price CFR Brazil stood at USD 540 to 550 a tonne on 26 January 2026 against USD 182 to 192 a year earlier, the largest buyer idled superphosphate plants from December 2025 and announced further curtailments in July 2026, and imports in January to August 2026 were about half those of the same months of 2025. Cargoes are fewer and the buyers that remain tender in lots of about 40,000 tonnes.
The private terminals set the ship. At Santos the fertilizer terminal on the north bank has four berths, of which berth 1 works an operational draft of 9.8 metres for ships up to 67,100 dwt and berth 4 takes ships up to 90,000 dwt, on a channel of 13.2 metres with the tide; it discharges at up to 1,200 tonnes an hour to two sulphur yards and rails the cargo inland. The terminal at Guaruja across the channel works 13.3 metres and 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes a day. At Paranagua the fertilizer terminal's inner berths were deepened to 13 and 11 metres and take ships up to 77,000 tonnes. Rio Grande receives over a private pier whose draft the receiver confirms for the laycan. A Supramax or Ultramax carries the 40,000 tonne lot with water to spare; a Panamax suits the deeper berths. Formed sulphur is IMSBC Group C and corrosive when wet, so holds are cleaned and lime-washed. Charterers send the producer and load terminal, quantity and tolerance, the discharge terminal and berth, rates and laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name.
Load ports
- US Gulf refineries: 567,500 t to Brazil in 2025, 933,500 t in 2024 (UN Comtrade)
- Vancouver: 126,000 t to Brazil in 2025 (UN Comtrade); 3.5 Mt of sulphur shipped in 2025
- Indian west coast: first cargo to Brazil in two years in 2026
- All outside the Strait of Hormuz
Discharge terminals
- Santos north-bank fertilizer terminal: berth 1 at 9.8 m and 67,100 dwt, berth 4 to 90,000 dwt; channel 13.2 m on the tide; up to 1,200 t/h
- Santos, Guaruja terminal: 13.3 m, 12,000–15,000 t/day
- Paranagua fertilizer terminal: inner berths 13 m and 11 m, ships to 77,000 t
- Rio Grande: private pier, draft confirmed by the receiver
Typical parcels
- Tender lots of about 40,000 t, Supramax and Ultramax
- Panamax to the deeper berths at Santos and Paranagua
- Brazil 2025: 2.32 Mt imported, 41% from inside the Gulf (UN Comtrade)
- IMSBC Group C for formed sulphur; holds cleaned and lime-washed
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
The cargo from the freight side
Questions charterers and owners ask
Which Brazilian terminals take sulphur, and on what draft?
At Santos, the north-bank fertilizer terminal works 9.8 metres at berth 1 for ships up to 67,100 dwt and takes up to 90,000 dwt at berth 4, on a channel of 13.2 metres with the tide; the Guaruja terminal works 13.3 metres. At Paranagua the fertilizer terminal's inner berths are 13 and 11 metres. The buyer nominates the terminal and the berth goes in the stem.
What parcel size do Brazilian buyers take?
Buyers tender in lots of about 40,000 tonnes, which is a Supramax or Ultramax cargo. The deeper berths at Santos and Paranagua take a Panamax, so two lots can be combined on one ship where the terminal and the receivers agree.
Where does sulphur for Brazil load now?
The United States was already Brazil's largest origin, with 567,500 tonnes in 2025, and Canada supplied 126,000 tonnes (UN Comtrade). The US Gulf to Santos is a short Atlantic run; Vancouver cargoes route by Panama or the Cape. Name the producer and the load terminal and the stem goes to owners.
What must I send to get a named ship?
Producer and load terminal, quantity and tolerance, the discharge terminal and berth with its draft, load and discharge rates with laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name. Supramax and Panamax owners opening in the US Gulf, the Caribbean, the east coast of South America or the North Pacific send name, IMO number, dwt, draft, open port and dates to desk-a005f1@in.laycandesk.com.