Vancouver sulphur exports rise 20pc in Aug

Sulphur exports from Canada's Vancouver port reached 320,000t in August, rising by 20pc from July.

Exports in August went to China at 180,000t, Australia at 69,000t, the US at 50,000t and New Zealand at 21,000t.

Last month's bumper exports pushed the total for the first eight months of this year 15pc above the same period last year at 2.27mn t, on disruptions to loading schedules in July last year because of a 13-day strike.

An anticipated port strike this year has so far been averted. But the risk remains, as there has been no update regarding the progress of negotiations between the International Warehouse and Longshore Union Canada and the British Columbian Maritime Employers Association. Both parties are awaiting a ruling by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, following a hearing that ran from 11-17 September. Neither party has issued a 72-hour strike or lockout notice.

September's rail strikes were also short-lived this year, and the disruption minimal.

Wildfires pose a further risk, after they caused outages last year to delivery schedules from production sites to Vancouver port. While the impact has been limited this year, with some oil sands operations reducing staffing, there is still some time before the risk of them abates.

There is also more de-blocking taking place, with product melted from long-term storage at Alberta's substantial sulphur blocks to reduce block size and move stored product to export markets. This is expected to accelerate, and maintain higher exports despite reducing production from some oils sands plants and upgraders, as new forming capacity lifts remelting and reforming. The new South Cheecham priller is finally operational after long-standing operational issues from January to May.

By Maria Mosquera