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.
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.
Colombia's Ecopetrol to export first sulphur
Colombia's Ecopetrol to export first sulphur
London, 28 May (Argus) — Colombian oil company Ecopetrol will export its first containerised sulphur shipment in June from its 200,000 b/d Cartagena refinery. The 1,100 metric tonnes (t) load is destined for African and Latin American markets, with Tanzania and Peru among destinations. Ecopetrol said it will have a regular export volume of around 1,000t/month of containerised product, and is currently negotiating July export volumes. Ecopetrol recently announced the first shipment of 260t of solid sulphur produced at a newly inaugurated pelletizing plant at its Cartagena refinery . The first solid sulphur cargo was sold to a domestic distributor supplying Colombia's fertilizer, chemical, mining and water treatment sectors. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Tupras sulphur awards remain below Med export prices
Tupras sulphur awards remain below Med export prices
London, 21 May (Argus) — Turkish refiner Tupras on Thursday awarded its e-tender for sulphur in full, offering small lots for loading in June at $690-730/t fca, up by $248/t on average from the previous tender on 28 April and 30 April at $428-496/t fca. From Izmit — lots ranging from 100-1,200t at $690-723/t fca. From Kirikkale — lots ranging from 200-900t at $725-730/t fca. From Izmir — lots ranging from 150-650t at $701-713/t fca. Prices remain lower than in the export market in light of a recent sulphur export ban in Turkey that limits 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.
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