Category: Outlook & Reviews

A complete listing of all articles and news items that appeared in Nitrogen+Syngas magazine during 2023.

A complete listing of all articles and news items that appeared in Sulphur magazine during 2023.

Pyrite roasting as a source of sulphuric acid continues to be a significant, albeit minor sector of the overall acid market.

The nickel market has been through a period of unprecedented change over the past few years due to demand for batteries for electric vehicles, with Indonesia becoming a centre for production via high pressure acid leaching.

Small quantities of sulphur in a refinery or gas feed can present challenges for conventional large scale sulphur recovery techniques.

Sulphur prices declined in Q4 following the increases seen during Q3, because of ample availability and limited spot demand. One contributing factor was that phosphate fertilizer producers in China, the largest importer of sulphur, have cut downstream production due to increased export restrictions. In addition, high sulphur stocks at Chinese ports and continuing high domestic sulphur production mean that domestic buyers have other options aside from international purchases.

“ The need for technical knowledge and insights has never been more important.”

Sulphur prices are expected to increase during H1 2024, reversing the trend of recent declines, though good availability will limit the upside to price gains in the short term. However, should fertilizer production prove weaker than expected, prices may remain below expected levels.

Ammonia prices are expected to remain soft moving through January with little in the way of price support from both a supply and demand perspective. Weakened global sentiment was characterised by news of January’s Tampa settlement $100/t down on December at $525/t CFR, with further declines anticipated in Q1 once the Gulf Coast Ammonia (GCA) project comes online. Traders returned to their desks in the New Year and ammonia prices extended losses amid a stable supply outlook and a distinct lack of downstream industrial and fertilizer demand.

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