Sulphur transported by rail from the Kashagan and Tengiz projects to seaports on the Russian network dropped by 9pc to 1.85mn t in the first five months of this year, Russian rail data show.
When factoring in sulphur rail shipments from other Kazakh refineries, the drop is smaller at only 6pc.
- Tengiz sulphur quantities fell by a substantial 26pc to 869,000t, with the majority moving to the Baltic port of Ust Luga for onward shipment at 835,000t. Just 34,000t went to Batumi on the Black Sea. The drop is attributed to maintenance early this year reducing output at some crude units at the plant.
- Kashagan sulphur rail shipments bucked the declining trend, rising by 14pc to 977,000t in the first five months of this year. This includes 568,000t delivered to Ust Luga on the Baltic Sea and 408,000t to Taman on the Black Sea.
- Crushed lump sulphur from Kashagan's block is expected to be depleted by July-August, and Kashagan's sulphur rail shipments for export markets are expected to drop by around 350,000-400,000 t/yr as a result. Crushed lump sulphur has been moved via Ust Luga and Taman ports alongside granular shipments, with Taman replacing Kavkaz in the fourth quarter of 2024 as the Black Sea port receiving crushed lump.
- Other Kazakh refineries contributed a further 32,000t to St Petersburg port and 6,000t to Ust Luga port, both on the Baltic Sea, and 31,000t to Taman port in the Black Sea.
