Almost one third of sulphuric acid production, and a much greater share of globally traded acid, comes from smelting of base metal sulphides and the recovery of SO2 from flue gases. Smelter acid production continues to increase, particularly from copper, creating an imbalance in the sulphuric acid market.
ADNOC Gas PLC has reported $1.39 billion in net income for 2Q 2025, up 16% year on year and a quarterly record for the company. Last year, the gas processing and sales arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. logged its highest annual net earnings - $5 billion - due to rising natural gas demand in the United Arab Emirates. In particular, revenue from ADNOC Gas’s sulphur sales more than doubled to $96 million from $43 million.
YPF says that its modernisation of the Luján de Cuyo refinery has taken a step forward with the installation of a hydrodesulphurisation reactor, designed to remove sulphur compounds from diesel fuel by means of a catalytic process using hydrogen. The installation forms part of the refinery’s New Fuel Specifications (NEC) project, intended to produce of fuels with a lower environmental impact. The new reactor was built in Mendoza by IMPSA. With a length of 38 meters and a weight of 456 tons, it was moved from Godoy Cruz to the YPF plant in a logistic operation that involved Vialidad Nacional, Mendoza Police and local authorities. It will now be integrated into the HDS II unit, designed to reduce sulphur content in diesel to 10 parts per million, in line with current environmental requirements. The NEC plan includes new process units, such as H2 II and SE33, the adaptation of existing facilities and the improvement of auxiliary services. The project, already 85% complete, will allow all the diesel oil produced in Luján de Cuyo to comply with the highest emission requirements.
CSV Midstream Solutions says that startup of the Albright gas plant in Alberta is likely to be delayed due to issues with the sulphur recovery plant. Commissioninf began in June 2025, with expectations of full-scale operations to commence in July 2025. However, a faulty valve at the SRU has necessitated a root cause analysis for its failure. The plant will process 150 million cfd of sour gas once operational.
Saudi Aramco has signed an $11 billion lease and leaseback deal involving its Jafurah gas processing facilities with a consortium of international investors, led by funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock.
• The global sulphur market is forecast to enter a downward trend as supply from Saudi Arabia normalises following the summer months, while demand decreases alongside demand for phosphate fertilizers. The price is expected to fall towards the end of the year, with a low of around $220/t by May 2026.
The global sulphur market registered price increases during August as a result of demand in Asia and North Africa, while supply has tightened due to limited supply from the FSU and Saudi Arabia, as well as logistical constraints in both Iranian ports and railway capacity to Black Sea ports.
Sulphur output in North America continues to decline due to refinery closures and conversions at the same time that acid demand is increasing for metals processing projects.
thyssenkrupp Uhde has completed the pre-FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) phase for the Portland Renewable Fuels Project in collaboration with HAMR Energy. The project, located in Victoria, Australia, will use biomass residues and renewable electricity to produce green methanol that can be used as a low carbon liquid fuel to power shipping and aviation.
The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, has issued a tender for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build India’s first port-based bio-methanol plant. The 3,500 t/a plant will use oxy-steam gasification technology to convert biomass into bio-methanol. The scope covers design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and product certification, with bidders required to outline plant life, warranties, capital expenditure, and operating costs. The move follows DPA’s earlier call in May for turnkey proposals for a larger integrated plant of over 15,000 t/a, and its February 2025 agreement with Bapu’s Shipping Jamnagar Pvt. Ltd. to develop India’s first bio-methanol bunkering facility, including a dedicated bunker barge, at Kandla Port.