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.
South Korean Young Poong's zinc smelter catches fire
South Korean Young Poong's zinc smelter catches fire
Singapore, 9 July (Argus) — A fire broke out at South Korean conglomerate Young Poong's 728,000t/yr Seokpo zinc smelter in North Gyeongsang province at around 12:36 local time (03:36 GMT) today, according to local media and market participants. The fire is understood to have started within the smelter and prompted a level one response from local fire authorities because of concerns over a potential release of hazardous gases. Firefighters have been deployed to evacuate nearby residents and conduct search operations. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, market sources said. Young Poong supplies most of its sulphuric acid volumes to the domestic market, with an estimated 200,000t/yr exported through the Donghae port, largely under term contracts with traders. Any disruption to sulphuric acid production would likely impact domestic availability. The company did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publishing. By Deon Ngee Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Mosaic to further curtail US, Brazil phosphate output
Mosaic to further curtail US, Brazil phosphate output
Houston, 8 July (Argus) — US fertilizer producer Mosaic today said it will further reduce its phosphate operations at select North American and Brazilian facilities because of curtailed raw material supply availability. The reduced availability is due to traffic still largely halted through the strait of Hormuz . Further temporary operational measures are being taken by Mosaic as sulfur inventories decline, while supply availability and fertilizer affordability remain constrained, the company said in a statement. "These actions are a temporary response to extraordinary market conditions and do not change the company's long-term strategy or commitment to global agriculture," Mosaic said. Mosaic will further reduce output at its Bartow, Florida, plant and Faustina, Louisiana, facility, which saw its operating rates reduced earlier this year. Production at Mosaic's Riverview, Florida, plant and Uncle Sam, Louisiana, facility will now also be reduced. Multiple customers have said they expect a full halting of operations at the Faustina plant because it was idled earlier this year, while Bartow operations could continue at a reduced rate if the sulfur supply outlook becomes more positive. But no specifics from Mosaic were provided on the scale of the operational pullback at any one plant. In Brazil, additional temporary curtailments and idling of facilities are underway after the producer idled and closed SSP production and mine activity in April. In May, the producer also paused Brazilian phosphate rock production. The additional curtailment news also comes nearly a week after the US government announced it would pause countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate imports for eight months, opening the door for the return of OCP phosphate tonnes into the US market after Mosaic in 2011 alleged the countries' imports materially injured the US market. In May, the producer announced it would withdraw its 2026 phosphate production guidance of at least 7mn metric tonnes (t) and had initiated steps to curtail production at plants in Louisiana and Florida, alongside scaling back output in Brazil. The reduction in phosphate operations was also a direct result of limited raw material supply availability from the ongoing conflict in the Mideast Gulf, which has forced domestic and global phosphate producers to reduce output. By Taylor Zavala Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
S Africa sulphur imports fall by 68pc, acid output cut
S Africa sulphur imports fall by 68pc, acid output cut
London, 8 July (Argus) — Sulphur imports to South Africa in the first five months of 2026 have dropped by 68pc, with only about 56,300t imported compared with 174,183t in the same period in 2025. The decline was driven by the sudden halt and then return of Middle East cargoes, which typically account for the vast majority of South Africa's sulphur imports. In January-May 2025, imports included 62,600t from Kuwait, 40,000t from Oman, 38,500t from Saudi Arabia and 31,500t from the UAE. Only one Middle East sulphur cargo was delivered into South Africa in the same period this year — about 55,000t in February — as imports from all key Gulf producers have been absent since 27 February, when the US-Iran conflict started. South Africa's domestic sulphur market has also faced competition from the Copperbelt mining sector. Following the outbreak of the conflict, mining companies moved quickly to secure sulphur supplies, often paying premium prices for material from the US Gulf Coast, Vancouver, the Black Sea and other export regions. South African consumers linked to the chemicals, fertilizer, paper and pulp sectors in comparison have been forced to reduce operating rates at a time of limited sulphur availability. Higher logistics costs have added to the strain. Following diesel price increases in March and April, trucking rates for a round trip between Richards Bay and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), before returning to Durban, peaked at about $1,000/t. Trucking freight costs from Richards Bay to Kolwezi in the DRC rose to about $600/t, reducing the route's competitiveness compared with backhaul options through Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Supply tightness was particularly evident in April when no sulphur warehouse stock in Richards Bay was available, as the amounts were already committed to downstream buyers. As of June, several sulphur cargoes have been able to discharge into Richards Bay but sulphur availability outside of committed volumes still remains tight. Sulphuric acid shortages add further pressures Major South African fertilizer and sulphuric acid producer Foskor shut down operations in March on the back of sulphur shortages, preventing margins for fertilizer sales. Foskor typically supplies the local sulphuric acid market in South Africa as well as exporting volumes to the Copperbelt. South Africa's oil refiner Sasol — which also produces sulphur and sulphuric acid — was rocked with an unplanned immediate shutdown at one of its facilities in March, preventing any sulphuric acid production, and is understood to be in maintenance until August, further tightening regional acid availability. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Bangladesh seeks 15,000t of sulphur through tender
Bangladesh seeks 15,000t of sulphur through tender
London, 8 July (Argus) — Bangladeshi firm BCIC issued a buy tender for 15,000t of crushed lump sulphur on 6 July. The closing date is 7 September with delivery to Chattogram within 30 days of opening the letter of credit. BCIC previously issued a buy tender for the same quantity of sulphur in April but it is understood that no award was made. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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