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.
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over August sulphur price
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over August sulphur price
London, 4 August (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has rolled over its August sulphur official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $1,000/t fob Ruwais, stable on its July OSP. Adnoc's August OSP implies a delivered price of $1,140-1,142/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India last assessed at $140-142/t on 30 July. Shipping costs have increased by $35/t since the July price was set, following the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire deal, translating to a corresponding increase in delivered prices implied by the fob level. Additional costs such as insurance premiums, on top of higher bunker costs, could elevate delivered price levels further. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
QatarEnergy rolls price for August sulphur
QatarEnergy rolls price for August sulphur
London, 30 July (Argus) — State-owned QatarEnergy Marketing has kept its August Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) at $890/t fob Ras Laffan/Mesaieed, unchanged from July. Freight rates as of 30 July range $140-155/t for a 30,000-35,000t shipment to Chinese ports. This implies a higher delivered cost of $1,030-1,045/t cfr for August compared with July, with additional insurance premiums raising prices further on a delivered basis. Vessel traffic through the strait of Hormuz has been muted since the conflict resumed with virtually no sulphur cargoes confirmed exiting since 18 July. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Tupras awards August domestic sulphur tender
Tupras awards August domestic sulphur tender
London, 28 July (Argus) — Turkish refiner Tupras has awarded its latest August domestic sulphur e-tender in full at $849-912/t fca for various lot sizes. Prices are up by $153.50/t on average compared with its previous tender on 23-24 June awarded at $650-804/t fca. From Izmir — lots ranging 100-700t and totalling 3,850t had a floor price starting at $675/t, awarded at $909-912/t fca. From Izmit — lots ranging 100-2,500t and totalling 16,000t, awarded at $849-852/t fca. From Kirikkale — lots ranging 100-750t and totalling 2,600t, awarded at $876-882/t fca. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India’s sulphur export halt to trim availability
India’s sulphur export halt to trim availability
Singapore, 28 July (Argus) — India's suspension of sulphur exports will further reduce availability in the seaborne sulphur market, although the impact is unlikely to be substantial because export activity has already slowed from April. No official documents have been released on India's sulphur export restrictions , but market participants widely understand that Indian refiners will be unable to export sulphur until further notice. Discussion of a potential export suspension first emerged in April , when a meeting was convened with major industry players after the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) called on the chemicals and fertilizers ministry to impose a minimum six-month ban on exports of elemental sulphur. The GCCI cited tightening supply, rising prices and the risk of disruption to fertilizer production. The export suspension is expected to primarily affect private-sector refiner Reliance Industries (RIL), India's main sulphur exporter, with cargoes typically loading from Bedi port on the country's west coast. India exported 356,900t of sulphur in January-April, according to Global Trade Tracker (GTT) data. No cargoes were shipped in May because refiners had already began to prioritise supply to domestic contract customers. Exports were mainly directed to China and Brazil, which received 142,900t and 110,000t, respectively, while the remaining volumes were shipped to Indonesia. The loss of Indian exports comes on the back of an already severely constrained global sulphur market, owing to the de-facto closure of the strait of Hormuz. India is heavily reliant on imported sulphur for fertilizer production. The country imported 2.25mn t of sulphur in 2025, with around 84pc sourced from the Middle East. Imports fell by 26pc on the year to 698,200t in January-May due to the outbreak of the US-Iran war. Concerns are also growing among sulphuric acid exporters that the government could extend export restrictions to sulphuric acid, but no official notice or proposal has been reported. By Deon Ngee Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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