The text below is an edited version of an Insight originally published on CRU Online, dated 30 January 2026. For access to the full Insight, request a demo to our services here.
Fertilizer Latino Americano (FLA) Conference in Miami is the largest annual gathering for the Latin American and global fertilizer community, and this year’s edition brought the full breadth of the market to Miami. Argus, in conjunction with CRU, hosted FLA in Miami, Florida from 26–28 January 2026, bringing producers, traders, importers, distributors and downstream stakeholders together for three days of debate, deal-making and perspective-sharing.
A warm Miami welcome set the tone at the event, but the conversations quickly turned to cooler realities – policy uncertainty, current geopolitical risks and input cost pressure. From our perspective at CRU, one message cut through consistently – affordability constraints are increasingly shaping the market narrative, influencing everything from trade decisions and supply planning to decarbonisation strategies and product positioning.
Policy risk is back in focus
Decarbonisation remains a clear long-term direction for the industry, but at the FLA Conference the immediate focus was on policy uncertainty – particularly around the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) where unresolved details on compliance costs, eligibility and verification are already influencing trade behaviour and making buyers hesitant to commit.
Delegates also highlighted current geopolitical risks, with concerns that Middle East tensions could disrupt energy markets and feed through into fertiliser pricing and availability. Meanwhile, in the US, heightened political scrutiny of fertiliser affordability – including allegations of potential anti-competitive behaviour among major producers – reinforced the sense that fertilizers are firmly on the policy agenda.
Cost pressures are shaping near-term supply narratives
Feedstock economics were a clear driver of near-term sentiment at FLA, underscoring how quickly supply narratives can shift when input costs move. High sulphur prices were linked to extended downtime at Brazilian phosphate facilities, while the US cold snap, and the resulting spike in natural gas prices, served as a reminder that weather-driven volatility can rapidly tighten nitrogen expectations. At the same time, delegates remained alert for the potential of demand re-emerging quickly, particularly amid speculation that India could return to tender activity sooner than expected, even if no definitive trigger had yet been materialised.
Decarbonisation is moving from ambition to execution … slowly
Sustainability was highly visible at the FLA Conference in Miami, but the most constructive discussions were grounded in execution. Decarbonisation is moving from ambition to delivery, with progress constrained by the practicalities of matching demand with project timelines, securing reliable low-cost energy, controlling capital costs and establishing bankable offtake structures.
“Clean ammonia” developments in the region were cited as proof of Latin America’s potential to pair renewable advantages with import-reliant nutrient markets, yet the core challenge remains commercial, i.e. placing lower-carbon products competitively while still monetising the attribute. Several speakers suggested any green premium may need to be shared further down the value chain to scale beyond niche volumes.
Brazil’s strategy is about resilience, modernisation and practicality
Brazil’s national fertiliser plan was presented as a push to strengthen domestic capability over time, including emphasis on low-carbon technologies, bio-inputs and more efficient fertiliser solutions, supported by collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Finally, logistics remained a practical concern. Increased Chinese ammonium sulphate availability is reshaping flows into Latin America, with a trend toward larger vessel sizes. However, delegates cautioned that long-haul routes, port line-ups and congestion dynamics can erode freight advantages, particularly when arrival schedules cluster.
What’s next
Coming out of the conference, we see three near-term signposts – how CBAM implementation will work in practice,whether energy volatility persists, and whether procurement behaviour (particularly in major importing markets) shifts from cautious to opportunistic. Underpinning this is the same constraint voiced throughout FLA – fertilizers must work agronomically, but they must also remain affordable.
Following a great week at the FLA Conference in Miami, we are already looking ahead to 2027, when CRU will be hosting FLA in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during 17–20 January next year. Register your interest today to avoid missing updates on this major networking opportunity.
