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 May sulphur price by $160/t
Abu Dhabi's Adnoc raises May sulphur price by $160/t
London, 5 May (Argus) — Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc has set its May sulphur official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent at $760/t fob Ruwais, up by $160/t from its April OSP. This is the highest level since June-August 2008, when the OSP hit $800-820/t fob and then softened slightly to $770/t fob. Adnoc's May OSP implies a delivered price of $855-859/t cfr India, with the freight cost for a 40,000-45,000t shipment to the east coast of India, last assessed at $95-99/t on 30 April. Additional costs such as insurance premiums on top of higher bunker costs elevate delivered price levels further in addition to lower product availability. Freight costs have risen by 476pc since the onset of the US-Iran war, from $16-18/t on 26 February, driven by additional toll payments required for safe passage. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
QatarEnergy raises May sulphur price to $740/t
QatarEnergy raises May sulphur price to $740/t
London, 30 April (Argus) — State-owned QatarEnergy Marketing has raised its May Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) to $740/t fob Ras Laffan/Mesaieed. This marks a record high for the QSP since Argus records began in 2013, with the current level $250/t above the previous high of $490/t fob in August 2022. Current freight rates last assessed at $116-122/t on 23 April for a 30,000-35,000t shipment to Chinese ports implies a delivered cost of $856-862/t cfr, with additional insurance premiums raising prices further on delivered basis to cover costs. This steep increase follows the sulphur supply crunch from the region because of the onset of the conflict, with sulphur shipments mostly still left stranded by the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz. Middle East sulphur production is at well below usual levels as a result of damage to infrastructure, including Qatar's Ras Laffan gas plant where the majority of Qatari sulphur is produced, and dwindling storage space. Sulphur loadings continue at a much reduced rate. By Maria Mosquera Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Indonesia’s Huafei to cut MHP output on sulphur costs
Indonesia’s Huafei to cut MHP output on sulphur costs
Singapore, 29 April (Argus) — China's major battery materials producer Huayou will place half of its mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) capacity at its Indonesian subsidiary, Huafei Nickel Cobalt, into temporary care and maintenance from 1 May, citing elevated sulphur costs and prolonged high operating rates at the facilities, the company said on 28 April. The move is described as a short-term response to elevated input costs and deferred maintenance requirements following sustained high utilisation. The company does not expect the temporary suspension to adversely affect its long-term development but did not disclose a timeline for operations to resume. Sulphur prices have risen significantly because of the ongoing US-Iran war, as nearly half of global seaborne sulphur trade transits the strait of Hormuz. Argus -assessed granular sulphur cfr Indonesia prices at $948/t on a midpoint basis on 23 April, up by $434/t, or 84pc, from $514/t cfr on 26 February, before the outbreak of the war. Sulphur is now estimated to account for 35-40pc of high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) operating costs, up from a more typical 25pc. Indonesia is heavily exposed to the supply shock, having sourced around 75pc of its 5.34mn t of sulphur imports from the Middle East last year. The temporary suspension has supported MHP market sentiment and prices. Offers for MHP rose to 95pc of London Metal Exchange (LME) nickel prices for nickel payable on 28 April, from 91pc in March, although no deals have yet been concluded at this level. Huafei secured permits to import sulphuric acid from Jakarta in April, although approved volumes have not been disclosed. Huayou is also seeking to reduce its exposure to the sulphur market by accelerating process upgrades and expanding sulphur sourcing channels. The company aims to address the issue through the construction of acid production projects using pyrite and phosphogypsum, which are expected to come on stream by the end of 2026. Huayou has not specified which subsidiaries will deploy the technology. Huafei began production at Weda Bay in North Maluku province in 2023 and has a capacity of 120,000 t/yr of nickel equivalent in the form of MHP. Huafei is Huayou's second MHP project in Indonesia, following Huayue in Morowali, Sulawesi province, which started production in 2021 and has 60,000 t/yr of nickel-equivalent capacity in the form of MHP. Output at the two projects has exceeded their nameplate capacities. Huayou's MHP shipments reached 236,500 t in 2025, up by 30pc year-on-year, while total nickel production across all products rose by 59pc on the year to 292,500t in nickel metal equivalent. Huayou's KNI MHP project remains under construction. The project is a joint venture between Huayou, Brazilian multi-metals mining group Vale and US automaker Ford, with planned capacity of 120,000 t/yr in nickel metal equivalent and start-up scheduled for December. By Deon Ngee, Sheih Li Wong Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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.
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