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.
Chinese domestic sulphur prices rise on US-Iran war
Chinese domestic sulphur prices rise on US-Iran war
Singapore, 9 March (Argus) — Domestic sulphur prices in China rose further today due to escalations over the weekend between the US, Israel and Iran. Prices reached 4,650 yuan/t ($672/t) ex-works — equivalent to around $577/t cfr on an import parity basis — on the back of several concluded sales today. This reflects a 4pc increase in prices from Yn4,470/t ex-works on 6 March. Further disruptions to sulphur production likely contributed to this increase. Bahrain's Bapco issued a force majeure on its operations after its 405,000 b/d Sitra refinery was hit in an attack linked to the ongoing US-Iran war. The refinery produces 210,000 t/yr of sulphur, according to Argus estimates. By Deon Ngee Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's sulphur imports up in February
Brazil's sulphur imports up in February
Sao Paulo, 6 March (Argus) — Brazil's sulphur imports rose by 24pc in February, according to the Global Trade Tracker's (GTT) latest data. Imports totaled around 151,020 metric tonnes (t) in the month, above the 121,455t in the same month in the previous year. The US was the main supplier in the month, accounting for 30pc of the total, or almost 45,270t. Kuwait followed with 28pc, or 41,750t. Kazakhstan sent 24pc — around 35,950t — of deliveries. Turkmenistan accounted for 17pc, or approximately 25,965t of the total. Availability is tight in the global market, redefining trade flows and pushing sulphur prices upwards. A sharp increase in sulphur prices drove US fertilizer producer and exporter Mosaic's decision to suspend production of SSP — a phosphate-based fertilizer that uses sulphur as feedstock — in Brazil. Its Fospar, in southern Parana state, and Araxa, in southeastern Minas Gerais state, facilities have been idle since 16 December . Brazil imported 297,775t of sulphur in January-February, a 16pc drop from the same period a year earlier as prices are still considered high by buyers and availability is tight globally. Kazakhstan was the main supplier, accounting for 41pc of the total, or 122,240t. The US was the second largest supplier with 21pc, or 62,544t. Kuwait sent 14pc — or 41,750t — of the total. Deliveries from Turkmenistan were at 9pc of the total, or 25,964t. Sulphuric acid imports down Sulphuric acid imports fell by 29pc to almost 19,710t in February from the same month a year earlier, GTT data show. Belgium was the main supplier in the month, accounting for virtually all imported volumes. Brazil imported 54,445t in January-February, a 33pc drop from the same period a year earlier. That is the lowest level for the period since 2020. Brazil's main supplier was Belgium with 73pc of the total, or 39,587t. Spain followed with 27pc, or around 14,855t, of the total. By Gisele Augusto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over March sulphur price
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc rolls over March sulphur price
London, 5 March (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has rolled over its March sulphur official selling price for the Indian subcontinent at $530/t fob Ruwais. This follows state-owned QatarEnergy rolling over its March price at $520/t fob on 4 March. These prices are well above last week's spot range, assessed at $494-496/t fob on 26 February, before the US-Israel attack on Iran. But the subsequent escalation of the conflict and the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz led to a jump in bunker fuel prices and insurance premiums as well as delays to vessel movements. This has changed the previously softening sulphur price direction, with almost half of global seaborne sulphur exports left stranded. Offers to delivered markets have risen substantially, with some offers to China, Indonesia and India indicated in a range of $570-600/t cfr. But most suppliers are opting to wait and see if sulphur vessel transit through the strait of Hormuz will resume in the near term, to better evaluate market conditions before making offers. Buyers are taking a similar approach before rushing to buy replacement supply for previous bookings from the Middle East. Middle East shipments will also now be subject to substantial delivery costs, if they can be delivered, with some indicating a doubling of freight rates from the region. This will inevitably erode margins, provided the vessels can pass through the strait, adding to uncertainty in the sulphur market and weighing on activity while market participants evaluate conditions. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil’s Jan PPI contracts on fuels, food
Brazil’s Jan PPI contracts on fuels, food
Sao Paulo, 4 March (Argus) — Prices paid to Brazilian producers fell by 4.33pc in January from a year earlier, mostly pushed down by the food sector and fuels, according to government statistics agency IBGE. The decline in the producer price index (PPI) slowed from a 4.51pc contraction in December but quickened from 3.36pc in November and smaller contractions the prior two months. The disinflation in PPI suggests that consumer price inflation, which accelerated to 4.44pc in January from 4.26pc in December, may soon be easing. The food sector, which accounted for more than half of the total PPI index result, fell by 9.84pc in January from a year earlier, after a 10.48pc annual loss in December, extending a negative streak begun in September, IBGE said. Sugar products and pork were among the main negative drivers, while falling sugar prices were mainly affected by a weakening dollar to the Brazilian real over the last year. IBGE's research manager Murilo Alvim said. As for crude and biofuels, producer prices for the sector fell by 7.64pc in the last 12-months, following a 5.64pc annual loss in December and marking an eight-month low, IBGE data show. Metallurgy producer prices fell by 4.91pc in January from a year earlier, following an 8.06pc annual loss in December. The index ticked up by 0.3pc from December. Brazil's PPI posted 10 consecutive monthly declines from February-November 2025, IBGE said. Copper and gold contributed the most to inflationary pressures within metallurgy in the monthly comparison, adding up to its 2.73pc. As for chemicals, sulfur-based fertilizers and other imported feedstocks raised producer prices to a 1.7pc gain from December, Alvim said. PPI measures average prices offered by suppliers to domestic producers of goods and services without considering taxes and freight costs. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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