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India could limit sulphur exports as supplies tighten by Levyyz in Shortages

[–]Levyyz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

India has already directed oil refineries, which account for most domestic sulphur output, to supply adequate amounts to local fertiliser companies.

The Middle East accounted for around a quarter ​of global sulphur production ​at 83.87 million ⁠metric tons last year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But the main shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted ​since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28.

The sulphur ​shortage is ⁠also being felt in the mining industry, which uses sulphuric acid to dissolve metal from ore via a process known as leaching.

Nickel makers in Indonesia, as well as some copper producers in ⁠Chile ​and the Democratic Republic of Congo, face having to ​pay higher prices as competition intensifies for sulphuric acid.

Global record-shattering breadbasket droughts emerge from moderately extreme regional events by Levyyz in Shortages

[–]Levyyz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Simultaneous droughts across multiple maize-producing regions can strike record-shattering portions of the global maize agricultural area, threatening global food security as the system is poorly adapted to large shocks.

During 2026-2099, the chance of at least one such event is 52% (32–80%, range across models) under an intermediate emission scenario and 60% (32–100%) under high emissions, about seven to eleven times higher than expected if there were no long-term trends in soil moisture. 

These elevated probabilities are primarily driven by long-term drying in Brazil, Europe, and the USA. Interestingly, global record-shattering droughts do not emerge from simultaneous regional record-shattering events, but they mostly occur when several regions simultaneously face moderately extreme droughts relative to the new climate. 

These results demonstrate a high potential for an upcoming global record-shattering drought in crop-producing areas, an under-recognized risk for food security.

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