Attacks to have little impact on Saudi sulphur

Attacks on 14 September that set ablaze the Saudi Arabian crude processing plant in Abqaiq and the Arab Light Khurais field will have little impact on sulphur supply from state-owned supplier Aramco Trading.

The Abqaiq facility produces around 100,000 t/yr of sulphur, while Saudi Arabia as a whole has an estimated sulphur production capacity of 7.1mn t/yr. The majority of Saudi Arabia's sulphur production comes from gas processing operations, with only 15pc coming from oil processing. No impact on Saudi sulphur exports is expected as a result.

The Chinese paper market prices for November have increased by around 30 yuan/t since 13 September to Yn674/t, following news of the attacks, but there has so far been no impact on the physical market.