Mosaic Co. Idles Louisiana Fertilizer Plants, Lays Off 206 Workers Amid Soaring Sulfur Costs

ST. JAMES PARISH, La. — Fertilizer giant Mosaic Co. announced this week that it is idling production at two of its Louisiana facilities, a move that will result in the layoffs of 206 employees by October 30.

The company confirmed that the cutbacks will affect its Uncle Sam plant in Convent and the Faustina plant in St. James. While the Faustina facility will continue its ammonia production, the suspension of phosphate fertilizer operations is a direct response to a “dramatic increase” in the cost of sulfur, a critical raw material in the manufacturing process.

A Global Supply Chain Crisis

The decision underscores the volatility currently gripping the global agricultural market. According to research from farmdoc daily, a publication of the University of Illinois, sulfur prices have spiked from $400 per ton at the end of 2025 to upwards of $1,000 per ton in recent months.

Industry analysts attribute this massive price surge to the ongoing war with Iran, which has triggered severe shipping disruptions across the Middle East. The region is a vital hub for the industry; roughly 16% of global sulfur production originates from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Compounding the supply crunch are geopolitical decisions in major exporting nations. China, which controls nearly 23% of the world’s sulfur supply, and Russia, which accounts for approximately 9%, have both significantly reduced exports to prioritize the needs of their domestic farming sectors.

Regional Economic Impact

Mosaic, one of the largest employers in St. James Parish, had a workforce of 369 people at the two affected plants in 2025, ranking it as the fourth-largest employer in the parish. The Louisiana Chemical Association has declined to comment on the layoffs or the operational changes at the sites.

In a formal statement, Mosaic indicated that the layoffs in Louisiana are part of a broader strategy to mitigate rising input costs, noting that the company is also reducing production capacity at its facilities in Florida and Brazil.

“Mosaic remains focused on the safe management of its facilities and assets while pursuing opportunities to resume full operations as market conditions improve,” the company said.

The layoffs, documented in filings with Louisiana Works, are expected to be finalized by October 30. As market observers watch the developments in the Middle East, the future of the St. James Parish plants remains contingent on the stabilization of global logistics and the eventual cooling of sulfur commodity prices.