Global Solid Sulfur Market - 2022-2029

Global Solid Sulfur Market - 2022-2029

Market Overview

The global solid sulfur market reached US$ XX million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$ XX million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 2022-2029.

Sulfur must be delivered in either solid or liquid form from the origin point to the destination. Sulfur melts at around 120 degrees Celsius and depending on the rail and road infrastructure available in the area, some portions of the world will transport sulfur in liquid form. Sulfur is carried in solid form in other parts of the world, particularly when delivered internationally. Solid sulfur is usually delivered in pellets, which are small spherical shapes with 2–6 mm diameter. Solid sulfur can be carried in various forms, including crushed bulk. However, pellets are the most frequent for international transit due to their superior handling properties.

Sulfur combines with almost all the elements except for gold, platinum and noble gases. Another aspect that will only impact sulfur availability in a few years is the decline in oil and gas production in Europe. In the foreseeable future, resources will be exhausted, especially in Central Europe. In the future, liquid sulfur will have to be purchased at higher prices from more distant refineries. Another option would be buying solid sulfur and converting it into liquid sulfur to produce sulfuric acid.

Market Dynamics

The global solid sulfur market is expected to boost with growing demand from fertilizer manufacturers.

Growing demand from fertilizer manufacturers

Sulfur is now regarded as an important nutrient that must be supplemented in deficient soils to improve crop yield and quality. Sulfur is commonly used in fertilizer manufacturers, such as calcium sulfate, a well-known fertilizer for avoiding nutrient runoff and soil erosion. Sulfur is only required by plants in 10 to 30 pounds per acre. Sulfur also functions as a soil conditioner, lowering salt levels in the soil. Sulfur is a component of several vitamins in plants and is necessary for the flavour of mustard, onions and garlic.

Sulfur in fertilizer aids in the formation of seed oil, although it can build up in sandy or overworked soil layers. Sulfur is used as a soil conditioner to lower sodium levels and 1,000 to 2,000 pounds (450-900 kg) per acre is required (4,000 square meters). Sulfur deficiency in soil is uncommon, but it happens when fertilizers are frequent and soils do not percolate well.

Sulfur is a low-toxicity/low-risk substance commonly employed in organic agriculture. As organic farmers seek to eliminate tillage, slug damage has grown and other measures available to organic farmers may be ineffective. Elemental sulfur is the most common insoluble sulfur fertilizer, which must be oxidized to sulphate before plants utilize it.

Recently, Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc and fertilizer producer OCP signed a long-term sulfur sales agreement. Adnoc will provide OCP with granular sulfur until 2025 under the deal. OCP obtains sulfur from Adnoc on a quarterly contract basis. OCP's sulfur consumption will increase in the next two years as it expands fertilizer capacity at its Jorf Lasfar processing facility by 3 million t/yr to 15 million t/yr.

Rising environmental concerns from solid sulfur

Due to rising environmental concerns, various companies have recently shifted towards using solid sulfur. China's push to enhance the environmental performance of its industries has shifted focus towards the solid sulfur market. Nantong port on the Yangtze river banned the imports of all solid sulfur. The decision was planned to limit pollution to the residential population of Nantong. Bulk crushed lump sulfur imports have been banned to all Yangtze river ports since Q2 2018, with the product now accepted in jumbo bags. The environmental performance assessment of Nantong Port began in 2016 during inspections carried out by the Ministry of Ecology & Environment. The inspections determined that the sulfur storage site had caused pollution as wastewater had been pumped directly into the river.

Recently, Marubeni Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the long-term supply and purchase of Molten Sulfur with Hubei Harvin (Group) Chemical Co., Ltd. In response to rising environmental awareness in China, Hubei Harvin seeks to reduce environmental risks by converting its raw material for fertilizer from Solid Sulfur to Molten Sulfur. Moreover, In 2020, Thai Wah ceased utilizing solid sulfur in the production cycle to mitigate air pollution by combustion and minimize health hazards to its workers.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The solid sulfur market has seen surprising price gains in various countries during the COVID-19. China imports dropped in 2020, but prices have remained strong through COVID. With China being the world's biggest sulfur buying country, this caused trouble across the market, as sulfur consumers were operating at very low rates. The market has also declined due to low demand from end-users.

Due to the pandemic, rubber manufacturing has to face a notable impact, considering the slowdown in transportation and industrial activity as rubber is extensively used in automotive, industrial rubber manufacturing and construction applications. Higher input costs have also bolstered fertilizer prices. Phosphates raw material costs, particularly sulfur, have increased sharply as refinery curtailments due to pandemic restrictions limited supplies.

Segment Analysis

The global solid sulfur market is segmented based on form, manufacturing process, purity, application and region.

The demand for solid sulfur is boosted with the need for vulcanization of rubber

Based on application, the global solid sulfur market is segmented into chemical processing, fertilizer, metal manufacturing, paper and pulp, rubber manufacturing, plastics processing, cosmetics and others.

Sulfur is an important product used in the vulcanization of rubber and tyre manufacturing companies. Vulcanization converts natural rubber and other elastomers into cross-linked polymers. The most common vulcanization agent is sulfur(granular sulfur, powder sulfur). It forms bridges among individual polymer molecules when heated with rubber. Often, initiator and catalyst are added to accelerate the vulcanization process. The cross-linked elastomers have many improved mechanical properties. Unvulcanized rubber is not durable and has poor mechanical properties.

Insoluble sulfur powder is an amorphous form of sulfur that can be generated by reacting sulfurated hydrogen with sulfur dioxide or by heat-polymerizing powder sulfur. Insoluble sulfur is a common rubber ingredient. It increases product quality, wearability and fatigue and age resistance. It is majorly used in the manufacture of tyres, rubber pipes, shoes, cable and wire insulating materials, latex and car rubber parts. It is also an essential component of belt tires and is globally acknowledged as the best vulcanizing agent.

Various companies have launched new solid sulfur products to enhance tyre properties. For instance, in 2018, Eastman Chemical Co. unveiled new insoluble sulfur that will help tire manufacturers enhance the productivity of their compounding operations.

Geographical Analysis

Growing demand from fertilizers and chemical processing sectors will boost the demand for solid sulfur in Asia-Pacific

The growing demand from fertilizers and chemical processing applications in countries like India and China will boost the demand for the solid sulfur market. In 2021, Murugappa Group firm Coromandel International had set up a new sulfuric acid plant at its fertilizer complex in Visakhapatnam, India, at the cost of US$ 52.7 million (Rs 400 crore). The new sulfuric acid plant will have 1,650 tons per day capacity at the company's existing fertilizer complex in Visakhapatnam. India is the third-largest importer globally, accounting for 20 lakh tons of imports. In line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of and promoting local manufacturing, the company announced a 1650 TPD sulfuric acid plant at Visakhapatnam.

In 2021, Indian Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya directed all manufacturers not to raise retail prices of DAP and other phosphatic fertilizers to ensure the availability of crop nutrients at affordable prices during the ongoing Rabi season. The government has allocated nearly US$ 10,502 million (Rs 79,600) crore for fertilizer subsidies in the 2021-22 Budget. At present, the subsidy rate for Nitrogen is Rs 18.789; Phosphorus is Rs 45.323 and sulfur is Rs 2.374.

China is the major market for solid Sulfur. In 2019, China imported US$ 786 million in Sulfur, becoming the single largest importer of Sulfur globally. China imports Sulfur primarily from: UAE (US$ 204M), Iran (US$ 118M), South Korea (US$ 68.5M), Japan (US$ 60.3M) and India (US$ 58.5M). The fastest-growing import markets in Sulfur for China between 2018-2019 were UAE (US$ 58.3M), Iran (US$ 11.7M) and Kazakhstan (US$ 6.34M). In 2018, China's average tariff on Sulfur was 2.33%.

Competitive Landscape

The global solid sulfur market is extremely competitive and fragmented with several local and global brands. Players in the market include Enersul Limited Partnership, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Aglobis, Georgia Gulf Sulfur Corporation, Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund, Gazprom, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Motiva Enterprises LLC, Pbf Energy, Petrobras, Qatar Petroleum, Repsol, Saudi Aramco, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Valero Energy Corporation among others.

The players in the market are known to incorporate numerous market strategies to achieve growth in global solid sulfur market; these include project expansions, acquisitions and collaborations.

For instance, in 2021, IPCO launched a sulfur drum granulator to convert liquid sulfur into solid sulfur granules. The SG 20 is the advanced model of drum technology and is a scaled-down version of the bigger SG 30.

In 2020, Saconix International GmbH has acquired the assets of the sulfur export terminal in Germany from Norddeutsche Erdgas-Aufberreitungs-GesellschaftmbH. The Terminal will have the ability to receive solid sulfur and store solid sulfur.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company

Overview: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is the leading energy producer and a major catalyst for the growth of the Abu Dhabi economy. With a production capacity of over 3.5 million barrels of oil per day and over 10.5 billion cubic feet natural gas per day, the company operates across the hydrocarbon value chain. ADNOC has a network of businesses for exploration, storage, refining, production and trading and developing a broad range of petrochemical products.

Product Portfolio:

Granulated Sulfur: The company is the world’s largest producer of granulated sulfur, producing around 5% of the world's total production. The company exports granulated Sulfur to fertilizer customers worldwide.

Key Development: In 2020, ADNOC Sour Gas planned to construct a new Sulfur pipeline to carry sulfur produced by its Shah field sour gas operations. The additional pipeline will carry the sulfur from the main processing plant to the granulation Sulfur plant located, where the Sulfur is granulated, stockpiled and transported, via rail, to a sulfur handling terminal at ADNOC’s Ruwais Downstream hub.

Why Purchase the Report?

To visualize the global solid sulfur market segmentation by form, manufacturing process, purity and application and region and understand key commercial assets and players.

Identify commercial opportunities in the global solid sulfur market by analyzing trends and co-development.

Excel data sheet with numerous solid sulfur market-level data points with four segments.

PDF report consisting of cogently put together market analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.

Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major market players

The global solid sulfur market report would provide approximately 69 tables, 66 figures and almost 217 pages.

Target Audience 2022

Service Providers/ Buyers

Industry Investors/Investment Bankers

Chemical Manufacturers

Molten Sulfur Manufacturers

Solid Sulfur Manufacturers

Education & Research Institutes

Research Professionals

Emerging Companies

Logistics companies

Distributors