By Leonardo Gottems

Brazilian manufacturer Sulboro has inaugurated a new production facility for specialty fertilizers based on sodium octaborate tetrahydrate in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, marking a significant expansion in the country’s domestic micronutrient production capacity.

The new plant, situated on a 39,820-square-meter site with 12,000 square meters of constructed area, represents a BRL 25 million investment (approximately USD 4.6 million) and has created 50 direct jobs. The facility is designed to triple Sulboro’s current annual production capacity of 11,000 tonnes, with infrastructure already in place for further doubling in the medium term.

The expansion comes at a strategic moment for Brazilian agriculture. Brazil still imports more than 80 percent of its fertilizer demand, exposing companies to exchange rate volatility and logistical vulnerabilities. Sulboro is the only national manufacturer of octaborate, an essential micronutrient for various crops and industrial applications.

“Sulboro will complete 25 years in 2026, and this year will begin production at its new factory,” said Fabio Barp, Founding Partner of Sulboro, talking exclusively to New AG International. “This factory, together with our first unit (which will continue operating), will triple the production capacity of BoroTop, BoroTop Plus, and BoroTop Gran, which are boron sources specially developed for agriculture.”

Barp emphasized the critical role of boron in Brazilian agriculture: “This nutrient is deficient in all Brazilian soils, and this deficiency greatly limits the productivity of all crops. With this new industry, we will be able to access new markets, new agricultural crops, and new regions.”

He noted that capacity expansion will be gradual. “The factory will not start at triple capacity because it is a market we will gradually develop. The industry was already built with the possibility of once again doubling production capacity in the medium term.”

Sulboro’s Product Line

The new facility will manufacture three specialty boron products, all based on sodium octaborate tetrahydrate (Na₂B₈O₁₃·4H₂O), an inorganic borate family compound containing approximately 20 percent boron content with high solubility, used to correct deficiencies in various crops.

BoroTop, the company’s flagship product, is a white, odorless powder designed specifically for agricultural applications. With a neutral pH, it offers rapid plant absorption, minimal leaching, and an optimal cost-benefit ratio. The product is primarily applied to soil at rates of 4-5 kg per hectare for most crops, though rates vary by crop type—coffee applications, for instance, can reach up to 50 kg per hectare during renovation. BoroTop is available in 2 kg and 25 kg bags and plays an important role in cellular division, pollination, and fruit setting across diverse crops including soybeans, corn, cotton, coffee, and sugarcane.

BoroTop Gran represents an innovation in application technology. Available in granular form, this product features rapid-release technology and high solubility, making it ideal for broadcast applications. The granular formulation ensures the essential nutrients reaches plant roots at the optimal time, providing balanced nutrition from the start and continuous supply throughout crop cycles. It is available in 25 kg and 1,000 kg bags, facilitating large-scale commercial applications.

BoroTop Plus, marketed as the “Second Generation National Octaborate,” distinguishes itself through its pH 5 formulation. This acidic pH makes it highly compatible with spray tank mixtures that require lower pH levels, including various herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. The product combines high solubility with low leaching characteristics, ensuring maximum absorption without compromising the stability of other products in the tank mix. Like BoroTop Gran, it is offered in 25 kg and 1,000 kg bags for commercial-scale operations.

Expansion targeting to accelerate sales

Rio Grande do Sul’s chemical industry accounts for approximately 10 percent of the state’s industrial GDP and has shown signs of recovery. Growing demand for high-value micronutrients and specialty fertilizers has benefited companies investing in technology and specialization. According to the company, Sulboro’s expansion aligns with the global trend toward shorter supply chains, favoring domestic suppliers capable of offering products with lower price volatility and greater logistical security.

The company already supplies BoroTop products to all Brazilian states and aims to identify new regions and crops to increase market penetration. “We are certain that we have the best source of boron for Brazilian agriculture, technically confirmed through research during these 25 years,” Barp stated. “This authorizes us to think very highly, and the new factory undoubtedly plays a fundamental role in providing more support for the commercial area to accelerate sales.”

Learn more about the evolving markets of specialty fertilizers and advanced plant nutrition at the world-leading New AG International Annual Conference and Exhibition, coming this year 27-29 April, Madrid Spain.