Sulphur and Sulphuric acid
Overview
The global sulphur market has gone through fundamental changes in buying patterns, trade routes and pricing over the past few years. Fixed price contracts and formula-based indexation have become the dominant ways in which supplies are bought and sold around the world, which makes accurate price assessments and detailed analysis key to any sulphur market participants.
The global sulphuric acid industry has seen structural change in recent years and new capacities will continue to challenge the balance in the years to come. While demand will be driven by fertilizers — predominantly the increased production of phosphate and ammonium sulphates — the market will continue to be exposed to short-term supply shocks, especially from the metals sector.
Rising demand for battery materials such as nickel and cobalt (due to growing electric vehicle production) will in turn bolster demand for sulphur and sulphuric acid, increase competition for supply and impact pricing.
Our extensive market coverage includes formed sulphur (both granular and prilled), crushed lump sulphur, molten/liquid sulphur and sulphuric acid. Argus has decades of experience covering these markets, and incorporate our multi-commodity market expertise in key areas including phosphates and metals to provide the full market narrative.
Argus support market participants with:
- Price assessments (daily and weekly for sulphur, weekly for sulphuric acid), proprietary data and market commentary assessments
- Short and medium to long-term forecasting, modelling and analysis of sulphur and sulphuric acid prices, supply, demand, trade and projects
- Bespoke consulting project support
Latest sulphur and sulphuric acid news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global sulphur and sulphuric acid industry.
Mosaic extends SSP production halt in Brazil
Mosaic extends SSP production halt in Brazil
London, 21 January (Argus) — US fertilizer producer and exporter Mosaic has suspended its SSP production in Brazil for a further 30 days, the firm said today. Mosaic idled its Fospar, southern Parana state, and Araxa, southeast Minas Gerais state, facilities on 16 December , pinning the decision on a sharp increase in sulphur prices. It said at the time that it could review the decision after 30 days. It has decided to keep the plants off line but "will continue to assess market conditions in the coming weeks", it said. Mosaic does not intend to buy sulphur in Brazil in the near term because of the extended production cuts, it said. Prices for sulphur delivered to Brazilian ports have risen to $540-550/t cfr from $510-515/t cfr at the beginning of December. The latest prices are up by $358/t, or 191pc, at the midpoint from mid-January last year. By Tom Hampson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Viewpoint: Asia energy storage to accelerate in 2026
Viewpoint: Asia energy storage to accelerate in 2026
Singapore, 7 January (Argus) — Stronger government signals and new industry initiatives to support energy storage systems (ESS) in Asia-Pacific are set to accelerate deployments, creating ripple effects across the battery and lithium market in 2026 as participants eye a new growth engine. ESS deployment remains uneven across Asia-Pacific. China accounts for 88pc of the region's 85GW capacity in 2024, according to industry group Energy Institute. The remainder is concentrated mainly in Australia and South Korea. These countries aim to scale up ESS buildout further. China is targeting 180GW of capacity by 2027, while South Korea plans to reach 2.22GW capacity by 2029. Australia has committed A$500mn ($337.75mn) to expanding local battery manufacturing. Other Asian nations are also picking up pace. Vietnam is targeting up to 16.3GW of ESS by 2030, while Malaysia launched its first 400MW auction this year. Governments are increasingly supporting integrated renewables and battery projects. India and the Philippines awarded such projects this year; Australia is auctioning dispatchable clean power contracts , and Malaysia intends to do this year, according to lawmakers. "In Asia-Pacific, while spot markets exist in some jurisdictions, most markets still lack mature price signals and ancillary service frameworks needed for merchant energy storage investment," nonprofit EnergyTag's Asia Pacific head Shailesh Telang told Argus . ESS deployment is still primarily backed by tenders, subsidies, regulated tariffs, or state-supported procurement, Telang noted. "Over time, market forces can take over, but today policy remains the primary driver," he said. Industry initiatives could further support growth. Regional advocacy group Fessia launched in September and will initially focus on smoothing policy for ESS deployment and bankability in Vietnam and the Philippines. Corporate standard-setter Greenhouse Gas Protocol is also consulting on switching from annual to hourly matching of clean power purchases . The requirement could spur demand for nighttime clean energy — and, in turn, batteries. But the clause is hotly debated and could feature leeway for smaller industries and emerging economies. Meanwhile, the South Korean government's first ESS central contract market auction in 2025 drew intense interest, selecting eight operators out of 51 proposals for 563MW of ESS capacity — largely concentrated on the mainland. A second auction round followed later. South Korea's ESS momentum, driven by its 2029 capacity target, aligns with domestic battery makers' pivot from electric vehicles. Top battery maker LG Energy Solution's (LGES) plans to produce lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) ESS batteries domestically, citing the domestic energy ecosystem, starting with 1GWh. South Korean battery makers' ESS focus will likely intensify as the US EV market slows. Leading firms such as Samsung SDI, LGES, and SK On have all redirected resources to tap the ESS market, particularly in the US, given the data centre and renewable energy build-out. Their once EV-dedicated lines are increasingly repurposed to produce ESS as EV market uncertainty lingers. LFP reality sets in Chinese-dominated LFP chemistry continues to see surging adoption in South Korea , which has firmly stepped into the space and closed multiple LFP ESS supply deals in 2025. But China's dominant position in LFP still appears immovable, thanks partly to the scale of its domestic ESS and EV markets. The Chinese government is on track to more than double its new energy storage capacity to 180GW by the end of 2027 from 2024, it said in an action plan . Strong growth persists among Chinese domestic energy storage firms such as Eve Energy, Cornex, Envision, Great Power Energy and Technology, and Hithium, commented a Chinese battery recycler — though the sector remains overshadowed by industry giant CATL. Anticipation of robust ESS growth in China for 2026 — where Argus heard estimates between 30-100pc across multiple analysts and market participants — reflects varying degrees of optimism. Yet, one consensus stands out among market participants: ESS growth is confirmed and is dominating lithium market discussions near the end of 2025, supporting lithium prices and injecting fresh hope for market expansion. By Joseph Ho and Liang Lei Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises Jan sulphur price by $25/t
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises Jan sulphur price by $25/t
London, 31 December (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has set its January sulphur official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $520/t fob Ruwais, up by $25/t from its December OSP. Adnoc's January OSP implies a delivered price of $536-538/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India last assessed at $16-18/t on 18 December. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Kuwait's KPC raises Dec sulphur price by $95/t
Kuwait's KPC raises Dec sulphur price by $95/t
London, 2 December (Argus) — Kuwait's state-owned sulphur producer KPC has set its December Kuwait Sulphur Price (KSP) at $495/t fob Kuwait, up by $95/t from the October KSP. The December KSP implies a delivered price to China of $517-521/t cfr at current freight rates, which were assessed on 27 November at $22-24/t to south China and at $24-26/t to Chinese river ports for a 30,000-35,000t shipment. Following substantial monthly increments to the KSP price in the past three months, the December level has now risen $5/t above the peak reached in June 2022 at $490/t fob Kuwait. This announcement follows the Qatari December price announcement made on 30 November at the same level . Sulphur prices have been firming this year, with new sulphur burning capacity brought on line in Morocco for fertilizer production and in Indonesia for nickel refining. And supply has become constrained as much of Russian sulphur production has gone off line as a result of conflict-related damage to oil and gas processing sites. The recent price increases have made sulphur unaffordable for many fertilizer producers, sulphuric acid sellers and chemical companies — but to date demand erosion has not been sufficient to offset the rising trend. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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