SULPHUR COATED UREA (SCU)

Buyer specification & enquiry sheet  ·  Cargo supply FOB / CIF / CFR

Also known as: Sulfur Coated Urea, SCU, Urea Gold (India FCO grade)

Standard traded grades: 37-0-0-17 (FCO / Urea Gold)  |  37-0-0-10/15 (export SCU)  |  35-0-0-15 (slow-release)

Sulphur Coated Urea is a controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer produced by coating urea granules with molten elemental sulphur (and, where specified, a wax or polymer sealant). The coating slows nitrogen release, reduces volatilisation and leaching, and supplies plant-available sulphur as the coating oxidises in soil.

Ametheus supplies SCU as a structural fertilizer cargo to registered importers, blenders, and trade partners. Execution is FOB load port or CIF / CFR discharge — not farm-gate retail.

  1. Technical Specifications

Grade A — India FCO / Urea Gold equivalent (preferred for South Asian buyers)

Parameter Unit Standard / Typical Value
Total Nitrogen (N) % 37 min
Sulphur (S), elemental coating % 17 typical (FCO Urea Gold)
Moisture (H2O) % 1.0 max
Biuret % 1.2 max
Particle size (2.00–4.75 mm) % 90 min
Appearance — Free-flowing yellow to gold granules
Pack — 40 kg bag (India reference); export 50 kg / FIBC / bulk as agreed

Grade B — Export / ISO-aligned SCU (for international stems)

Parameter Unit SCU 40 SCU 37 SCU 35
Total Nitrogen (N) % ≥ 40 ≥ 37 ≥ 35
Sulphur (S) % ≥ 8 ≥ 10 ≥ 15
Initial nutrient release (1-day) % ≤ 40 ≤ 27 ≤ 15
7-day dissolution rate % ≤ 60 ≤ 45 ≤ 30
Moisture % ≤ 1.0 ≤ 1.0 ≤ 1.0
Biuret % ≤ 1.2 ≤ 1.2 ≤ 1.2
Size 2.00–4.75 mm % ≥ 90 ≥ 90 ≥ 90

Reference: India FCO (Urea Gold 37% N + 17% S); ISO 17323 (N 31–42%, S ≥ 8%, 1DDR ≤ 40%, 7DDR ≤ 60%). Final specification is confirmed on each stem and stated on the commercial invoice and SGS / independent analysis.

Typical physical properties

  • Yellow to pale-gold coated granules; free-flowing when dry
  • Release period typically 6–12 weeks (soil temperature and coating integrity dependent)
  • Compatible with dry bulk blending when coating is intact
  • Elemental sulphur coating oxidises to sulphate in soil; not an instant sulphate source
  • Granular urea feedstock preferred over prills for coating integrity and handling
  1. What SCU is — and is not
  • SCU — urea granule with an outer sulphur (and optional wax/polymer) coat. Slow-release N plus S nutrition.
  • Urea Gold — Indian FCO sulphur-coated urea, 37% N + 17% S (RCF Trombay / national programme).
  • Not Urea-ES / Special-S — sulphur-enhanced ureas with micronised S inside the urea matrix (Shell Thiogro / similar). Quote only if the buyer specifies matrix product.
  • Not neem-coated urea — remains 46% N with a neem oil film; it does not supply sulphur at SCU levels.
  1. Key Benefits
  • Dual nutrient cargo — nitrogen plus sulphur in one granule; useful on S-deficient soils (oilseeds, pulses, cereals).
  • Controlled nitrogen release — coating reduces early flush, volatilisation and leaching versus uncoated urea.
  • Higher NUE — ICAR-linked programme material cites lower urea requirement versus conventional urea when used as recommended.
  • Crop quality — sulphur supports protein, oil and enzyme pathways.
  • Logistics — one product instead of a urea + AS / bentonite-S blend on many stems; confirm nutrient math per contract.

Note: SCU nitrogen analysis is lower than 46-0-0 urea because of coating mass. Compare on kg N and kg S delivered, not bag-for-bag with 46% urea, unless the contract is written that way.

  1. Recommended End-Use

Primary

  • Oilseeds — groundnut, mustard, soybean, sunflower, canola
  • Pulses and cereals on sulphur-deficient soils
  • Plantation and field crops needing 6–12 week nitrogen supply
  • Blending plants producing NS or NPKS grades

Also suitable

  • Turf / landscape grades (specify release window and SGN)
  • Markets restricting polymer-coated urea but accepting elemental-S coating

Application rates are set by the buyer’s agronomy, soil test and local regulation. Ametheus does not sell farm-gate retail in India and does not replace statutory subsidy-channel supply.

  1. Trade Snapshot
Item Typical
Usual lot 1–5 kt bagged / FIBC trial or programme; 10–25 kt where origin supports bulk stems
Incoterms FOB load port or CIF / CFR named discharge
Buyer type Registered importer, blender, third-country CIF buyer, industrial trader
Inspection SGS / equivalent at load — spec, size, moisture, N, S, biuret, coating integrity
Documents CI, PL, BL / SWB, COO, analysis, fumigation if required, insurance as per Incoterm
HS (indicative) 3102.10 — confirm coated / fortified classification at destination
  1. Packaging
  • 50 kg polypropylene bags with inner liner (export standard)
  • 1,000 kg jumbo bags (FIBC)
  • Bulk (loose) only where coating integrity and discharge handling are agreed in the stem
  1. Storage & Handling
  • Store dry, covered, on pallets; sulphur coating is sensitive to abrasion and moisture.
  • Avoid repeated handling that cracks the coat — cracked granules behave like ordinary urea.
  • Keep away from open flame and incompatible oxidisers; declare sulphur content to vessel and terminal.
  • Use standard PPE. Do not use as animal feed.
  1. How to Enquire

Send the following to the Commodities desk. We respond on live stems — not on generic catalogues.

  • Product: Sulphur Coated Urea (state FCO 37-17 or export SCU 35 / 37 / 40)
  • Quantity and packing
  • Discharge or load port
  • Delivery window
  • Preferred Incoterm
  • Any destination registration, FCO, or analysis requirement

Ametheus Holdings Pvt Ltd

Commodities Desk

Email: [email protected]  |  [email protected]

Web: www.ametheus.com

Related cargoes: Urea 46-0-0  |  Elemental Sulphur  |  DAP 18-46-0  |  MOP 0-0-60  |  SOP 0-0-50 + S

Print Friendly, PDF & Email