Magazine: Sulphur

A new advanced treatment process from thyssenkrupp Uhde provides a viable way to convert phosphogypsum into a valuable feedstock for clinker production and to recover sulphuric acid.

While there has been a focus on switching to low carbon hydrogen feeds, many options exist to decarbonise refineries, including energy efficiency, carbon capture and changing to bio-feedstocks.

Nickel is becoming increasingly important to the sulphur and sulphuric acid markets, with Indonesia now a key importer.

Sulphur degassing reduces hydrogen sulphide content in molten sulphur, which lowers toxic exposure risk, reduces the likelihood of explosive headspace conditions, and improves downstream handling.

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.

Peter Harrisson, Principal, Sulphur & Sulphuric Acid Market Services, provides a brief snapshot of the global sulphur market at the end of June 2026.

• The market has paused as bearish buyer sentiment has not yet translated into lower spot prices. The direction of the next major deal is now the critical test. This will either initiate a downward price correction, validating buyer caution, or force a recognition of the market’s underlying tightness and bring purchasers back to the table at current levels.

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.

BP has announced a number of changes to its leadership as part of a restructuring exercise instigated by new CEO Meg O’Neill. From 1st July 2026, the company will be organised around two distinct business segments – Upstream and Downstream – replacing the previous three-segment structure. Gordon Birrell has been appointed executive vice president, Upstream; and Richard Harding will be interim executive vice president, Downstream. Both bring decades of operational experience and leadership to their roles. A recruitment process is underway to appoint a permanent EVP Downstream.

Worley Comprimo, in partnership with BASF, has been awarded a contract to deliver engineering and licensing services for integrated gas treatment technology and sulphur recovery units at Oman’s Budour Tayseer Gas Project. The project is designed to produce 2 million scf/d of sweet gas, 950 m³/day of condensate, and 80 t/d of sulphur. It aims to strengthen Oman’s energy infrastructure by ensuring a reliable domestic gas supply under a design-build-own-operate-maintain framework, while supporting in-country value initiatives.