German sulphur exports drop 53pc in Jan-May

German sulphur exports halved in the first five months of this year, GTT data show, as production has declined and consumption is recovering from the post-pandemic slump.

Average monthly exports dropped to just 11,000t from 23,000t in the same period last year. Imports remained stable at 23,000t.

Top export markets in 2023 Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Sweden dropped to zero this year. Belgium previously received 52,000t, Netherlands 26,000t and Sweden and France 13,000t each. Minor Swiss exports at 7,000t maintained stable.

German sulphur production has dropped as a result of sanctions on Russian crude imports. This has particularly impacted the 150,000t/yr sulphur capacity TotalEnergies Leuna and the 175,000t/yr PCK Schwedt refineries previously connected via pipeline to Russian crude supply. Sanction impact was followed by Red Sea insecurity cutting a further 10pc of the region's sulphur production as Middle East feedstocks declined, and sweeter slates became even more widespread.

European refineries, German plants included, were running at high rates last year with refining margins very high, and this year's maintenance season has been heavier as a result of deferred turnarounds. In Germany, Miro's 131,000t/yr sulphur capacity Karlsruhe refinery was under maintenance in April. Two refinery conversions to biofuels production are planned to take place in 2025, with Shell's Wesseling plant to take 80,000t/yr of sulphur production capacity off line and BP's Gelsenkirchen a further 25,000t/yr. This is a trend repeated in other countries in the region, in a move to meet emissions reduction targets, so sulphur production is set to decline further.

Sulphur consumers which have struggled with low downstream demand, high energy prices and inflation, as well as competition from cheaper Chinese imports of caprolactam and titanium dioxide, are beginning to see some improvements. The European fertilizer industry has been more resistant, and some capacity additions are bucking the general European trend.

This has led to several companies targeting the European molten sulphur market with high-priced spot tonnes in this year, as well as others accelerating planning of new remelting capacity, to address the deepening shortages. Some companies are looking into adding molten sulphur tanker capability to import more spot tonnes to the liquid-only market, where most buyers have no capacity to handle solid sulphur imports. New projects along these lines are expected to be announced in the coming months.

By Maria Mosquera