Section: CRUSU Market & Features

Metso describes how digital solutions can profit from the deep integration of using a digital process twin in sulphuric acid technology, helping to improve operation, monitoring and reporting.

MEScon 2025 took place in Abu Dhabi from 19-22 May 2025, providing delegates with renewed energy, new connections, and fresh ideas to apply across the sulphur value chain.

IPCO highlights the reasons for converting sulphur into a solid form, and compares two of the technologies most commonly used to achieve this.

New sulphur production from Chinese and Indian refineries and Middle Eastern sour gas and the ramp up of nickel leaching projects in Indonesia continue to change the direction of sulphur trade.

The progressive closure of smelter capacity in Australia poses potential problems for acid consumers across the country.

• Global sulphur prices are expected to experience decreases over the next few weeks. Buyers in Asia report that they are covered for contracted supply throughout July, and domestic prices in China are likely to decrease further, putting downward pressure on sulphur prices.

The end of June saw declines in sulphur prices in many regions amid subdued global demand across regions. Most import markets are sufficiently covered through July at least, resulting in limited activity while supply increases. These conditions have exerted downward pressure on prices as bearish sentiment spread across regions.

Titanium dioxide is one of the major chemical uses for sulphuric acid outside of phosphate and metals processing, and sulphate route plants remain concentrated in China.

Indonesia has become the epicentre of the world nickel industry, and is now seeking to raise royalty rates to capture more value from this. Will this impact upon the continuing expansion of HPAL capacity there?

While the US tariff situation remains subject to considerable uncertainty, there has already been an impact on short term trade flows, as well as investment decisions.