Skip to main content

Sulphur 394 May-Jun 2021

31 May 2021

Sulphur recovery projects 2021

PROCESS PLANT SURVEY

Sulphur recovery projects 2021

Sulphur’s annual survey of recent, current and future sulphur recovery unit construction projects maps the developing shape of brimstone production from fuel and gas processing plants worldwide.

KEY

AGRU = Acid gas removal unit

BTX = BTX destruction

Fuel = Fuel gas supplemental burning

H2= Hydrogenation

O2= Oxygen enrichment

NH3 = Ammonia destruction

SRU = Sulphur recovery unit

SWS = Sour water strip

TGT = Tail gas treatment unit

n.a = Information not available

KEY

AGRU = Acid gas removal unit

BTX = BTX destruction

Fuel = Fuel gas supplemental burning

H2= Hydrogenation

O2= Oxygen enrichment

NH3= Ammonia destruction

SRU = Sulphur recovery unit

SWS = Sour water strip

TGT = Tail gas treatment unit

n.a = Information not available

Latest in Outlook & Reviews

Uncharted waters

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran broke down at the start of July, just three weeks after the signing of the June memorandum of understanding, after Iran fired at several vessels who had failed to notify them of their transit of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US retaliated with a missile barrage. While the two month negotiation period it had specified to solve all of the outstanding issues between the two parties had always seemed over-ambitious, market participants had at least expected to have that grace period to arrange for new cargoes and tranship them through the Strait. Now that the ceasefire has ended early, markets are truly entering uncharted waters.

Price Trends

The global sulphur market has entered a holding pattern, as a wave of bearish sentiment has so far failed to move stubbornly high spot prices. The departure of a significant volume of product from the Middle East has emboldened buyers and shifted market sentiment firmly towards bearish, but at time of writing this has so far failed to translate into lower prices. With sellers in no hurry to lower prices and spot availability still tight, the market has stalled as both sides wait for the other to blink first.