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.
Tupras awards sulphur offer at far lower price
Tupras awards sulphur offer at far lower price
London, 28 April (Argus) — Turkish refiner Tupras on 28 April awarded part of its e-tender offering small lots for May-loading sulphur at $428-496/t fca, down by $205/t on average from the previous tender on 24 March at $662-672/t fca. Tupras made awards from its refineries as follows: From Izmir — 5,000t of sulphur in bulk, liquid or in big bags in lots ranging from 150-800t at $493-496/t fca. Tupras opened bids at $800/t fca before lowering the opening price to $400/t fca. From Kirikkale — 3,500t of sulphur in lots ranging from 400-950t at $428-431/t fca. The Izmit refinery tender of 18,000-19,000t of sulphur in various lots was reportedly cancelled due to low prices. Low prices were expected in the tender in light of a recent sulphur export ban in Turkey limiting suppliers to the domestic market. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Libya's NOC announces sulphur export tender
Libya's NOC announces sulphur export tender
London, 27 April (Argus) — Libyan state-owned refiner NOC has issued its latest sales export tender for two cargoes of 6,000t each of sulphur for loading in May. The tender is expected to close on 29 April and is for May delivery out of Mellitah. The first 6,000t cargo's laycan dates are 7-9 May and the second cargo's laycan dates are 24-26 May. NOC did not offer April-loading sulphur, and its last export tender was for loading in March. NOC's last sulphur export tender closed on 16 February before the Middle East conflict started, and was for two lots of 8,000t of sulphur for loading in Mellitah with the first cargo's laycan dates of 1-3 March and the second on 17-19 March. Many oil refineries across north Africa and the Mediterranean reduced sulphur production rates due to a lack of crude availability after the Middle East conflict broke out at the end of February, and availability of sulphur has dropped as a result. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
India plans joint buying of fertilizers, raw materials
India plans joint buying of fertilizers, raw materials
London, 24 April (Argus) — India's fertilizer ministry has recommended that national fertilizer companies begin buying fertilizers and raw materials on a collective rather than individual basis. The ministry calls for a three-month period during which Indian fertilizer producers should join together as a consortium, aggregating their demand to ensure supply and competitive prices of key fertilizers such as DAP, MOP and NPS/NPKs as well as raw materials ammonia, sulphur, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid and phosphate rock. The first step in this regard was taken on Friday, when IPL issued a tender to buy 1.6mn t of DAP and TSP on behalf of the industry — the same approach as has been taken with urea imports for many years. India has struggled to secure sufficient supply of these products following the closure of the strait of Hormuz. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the chemicals and fertilizers ministry to impose a minimum six-month ban on exports of elemental sulphur. By Bede Heren Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Red Sea ports now central to Middle East sulphur supply
Red Sea ports now central to Middle East sulphur supply
London, 17 April (Argus) — The Saudi Arabian Red Sea ports of Yanbu, Rabigh and Jizan have become central to sulphur supply from the Middle East since the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz blocked vessels from the majority of sulphur-loading ports in the region. Vessel tracking data from Kpler show several sulphur shipments from Red Sea ports, with all three loading a cargo since the closure: The 38,650 dwt Sea Train loaded sulphur and sailed on 9 April from Jizan toward the Gulf of Aden, and is bunkering in Yemen. The previous cargo to load at Jizan was aboard the 32,688 dwt Sea Mark on 12 March for Fangcheng, China. The Minxin loaded around 27,000t of sulphur for delivery to Weda Bay, Indonesia on 27 March . The previous sulphur vessel to load at Yanbu was the 60,436 dwt Zante that sailed on 2 March for Klaipeda, Lithuania. A 20,000t sulphur cargo from Rabigh is set to arrive on 20 April at Morocco's Jorf Lasfar port aboard the Med Rose, having sailed on 4 April. Further cargoes were offered in the market from the Red Sea, but one constraint could be the potential of Houthi attacks on the route via the Gulf of Aden. This could raise insurance premiums or even force vessels to use the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope, significantly raising costs and sailing times. Copperbelt mining firms are able to pay the most competitive prices in the sulphur market via southern African ports for onward shipment to central Africa, and there may be subsequent shipments to these consumers. Only three vessels have so far managed to sail through the strait since the closure from mainstream suppliers, with the latest being the Valsamitis that moved through in the last few days in what could be a signal of some confidence in the security situation returning. Additionally, two Iranian sulphur shipments, one 20,000-25,000t crushed lump shipment and a 50,000t granular and prilled sulphur shipment may have also sailed through, though this could not be verified on vessel tracking. Oman's Duqm adds to supply In addition to Red Sea ports, Oman's Duqm port is also located outside of the strait, and loads regular sulphur shipments: The Xin Hai Tong 50 delivered 30,000t to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 31 March having sailed on 9 March. The next shipment is expected at the end of May. There are now around 15 vessels in the Mideast Gulf loaded with about 650,000t of sulphur visible on AIS and awaiting safe transit. The actual number could be higher, perhaps as many as 18-19 vessels, excluding Iranian shipments, with some vessels opting to switch off AIS tracking for safety reasons while in anchorage. The vessels include: Five vessels loaded in Qatar, 35,000-40,000 dwt each — the Western Doncaster , the Liverpool Strait , the Warrior , the Nejat — and the 30,435 dwt Wladyslaw Orkan . Four vessels loaded in Kuwait, three of 35,000-37,000t dwt each — the Ze Hui , the Safeen Al Nasr, the Lady Anastasia — and the 53,00t dwt Jin Ming 69 . Two vessels loaded in Saudi Arabia, 57,000t dwt each — the Heilan Journey and the Heilan Brother . Three vessels loaded in the UAE, 55,000-63,000t dwt each — the Frosso K , the African Lorikeet and the Yan Dang Shan and the Riching Lotus. If the current ceasefire holds and the security situation stabilises, further sulphur vessels may transit through the strait, easing some of the severe global shortage of product. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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