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.
No US tariffs on sulphur imports from Canada
No US tariffs on sulphur imports from Canada
London, 3 April (Argus) — Sulphur from Canada, which is by far the US' largest supplier, is not expected to be covered by the sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on 2 April. US sulphur imports from Canada totalled 830,000t in 2024 according to the US Geological Survey, with the rest of the world supplying just 60,000t. Trump exempted many energy and mineral products from tariffs unveiled on 2 April. Sulphur was not on the list of exemptions, but is understood to be covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, so should continue to be imported without tariffs. Sulphur imports from countries other than Canada and Mexico are believed to be subject to a 25pc tariff. US sulphur consumers would face higher prices if Canadian flows are subject to tariffs at a later date. Trump has threatened Canada and Mexico with further tariffs. He briefly imposed a 25pc levy on sulphur from Canada in February, only to suspend this days later. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises April sulphur price by $74/t
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises April sulphur price by $74/t
London, 3 April (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has set its April sulphur official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $280/t fob Ruwais, up by a substantial $74/t from its March OSP. This marks the highest level for the UAE's OSP monthly price since July 2022, when June and July OSP levels reached $485/t fob and $425/t fob, before plunging to $85/t fob in August. This follows a steady rise in spot prices from mid-2024, with the pace of rises accelerating over the past two months. Adnoc's April OSP implies a delivered price of $297-298/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India last assessed at $17-18/t on 27 March. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sulacid demand from Indonesian buyer muted: Correction
Sulacid demand from Indonesian buyer muted: Correction
Corrects volume in paragraph 5 to 106,000t from 160,000t London, 2 April (Argus) — Sulphuric acid demand from Indonesian battery metals producer PT QMB New Energy Materials (QMB) slowed in March and into April, with the firm carrying out plant maintenance following a landslide. Morowali Industrial Park in central Sulawesi was hit by a landslide after heavy rain on 22 March, resulting in three fatalities. QMB's high-pressure acid leaching plants are likely to be off line for a minimum of three weeks. The company was approached for comment. A large vessel line-up at Bahodopi has also curbed demand from one of Indonesia's largest acid importers. There are currently six vessels waiting to discharge at Bahodopi, carrying a combined 106,000t of acid. Some have been waiting since early March. It is unclear when the congestion will ease, given the QMB outage. Some traders are looking at diverting cargoes to destinations including India's east coast or Chile. QMB's Bahodopi sulphuric acid receipts were disrupted earlier this year after the company exhausted its import quota — this was only renewed in mid-February, for up to 600,000 t/yr. Indonesian sulphuric acid imports totalled 1.08mn t in 2024, slightly down from 2023's record 1.09mn t, with QMB receiving much of this. By Lili Minton and Deon Ngee Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
QatarEnergy Marketing raises Apr sulphur price by $73/t
QatarEnergy Marketing raises Apr sulphur price by $73/t
London, 27 March (Argus) — State-owned QatarEnergy Marketing has raised its April Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) to $275/t fob, up steeply from March's $202/t fob Ras Laffan/Mesaieed. Last month's increase was already unusually large, rising by a substantial $30/t from February, despite being less than half of the latest on-month increment, but the spot market has moved up at an accelerated pace in recent weeks. The April QSP implies a delivered price to China of $295-301/t cfr at current freight rates. This was last assessed on 20 March at $20-21/t to south China and $24-26/t to Chinese river ports for a 30,000-35,000t shipment. 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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