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 raises Jun sulphur price by $100/t
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises Jun sulphur price by $100/t
London, 5 June (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has set its June sulphur official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $860/t fob Ruwais, up by $100/t from its May OSP. This is the highest level for the OSP, according to Argus records, $40-60/t above the previous record reached in June-August 2008, when the OSP hit $800-820/t fob. Adnoc's June OSP implies a delivered price of $1,000-1,002/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 Thursday. Additional costs such as insurance premiums on top of higher bunker costs 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.
Kuwait's KPC raises June sulphur price to $805/t fob
Kuwait's KPC raises June sulphur price to $805/t fob
London, 3 June (Argus) — Kuwait's state-owned sulphur producer KPC has set the June Kuwait Sulphur Price (KSP) at $805/t fob Kuwait, up by $40/t from the May KSP of $765/t fob. Freight rates as of 28 May were $154-170/t for a 30,000-35,000t shipment to Chinese ports. This implies a delivered cost of $959-975/t cfr, with additional insurance premiums raising prices further on a delivered basis. Loadings continue for June shipments, but at a reduced rate. The delivery period for Middle East sulphur remains uncertain with the strait of Hormuz still largely closed, and no sulphur vessels crossing since last week. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
QatarEnergy raises June sulphur price to $805/t fob
QatarEnergy raises June sulphur price to $805/t fob
London, 31 May (Argus) — State-owned QatarEnergy Marketing has raised its June Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) by $65/t to $805/t fob Ras Laffan/Mesaieed. Freight rates as of 28 May were $154-170/t for a 30,000-35,000t shipment to Chinese ports. This implies a delivered cost of $959-975/t cfr, with additional insurance premiums raising prices further on a delivered basis. Delivered Middle East sulphur prices are higher compared to product from competing origins, allowing Vancouver fobs for example to rise above Middle East fobs to $990-1,100/t fob. Another problem for Middle East supply is the longer delivery time as a result of uncertain passage through the strait of Hormuz since the onset of the US-Iran war. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India’s IPL scraps sulphur tender
India’s IPL scraps sulphur tender
Singapore, 29 May (Argus) — Indian fertilizer importer India Potash Limited (IPL) has scrapped its buy tender for 593,500t of sulphur. Offers were valid until 27 May. The tender, on behalf of eight Indian companies, requested 527,500t and 66,000t for June-August delivery to the east and west coasts of India, respectively. The tender received offers for the east coast at $1,1,70-1,295/t cfr for June-July shipment, and $1,065-1,098/t cfr for August. No full cargoes were offered to the west coast, while two 3,000t cargoes were offered at $1,400/t cfr. While the lowest offer received was for a total of 593,000t at $565/t cfr, its legitimacy was unclear and was widely thought to have been disqualified at an earlier stage. Offers quoted in this tender came in above prevailing market indications, with Argus -assessed granular sulphur cfr India prices at $1,000-1,100/t cfr as of Thursday. IPL was understood to have entered price negotiations with traders, but the tender was subsequently scrapped. 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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