Section: CRUSU Market Intelligence

Restrictions and lockdowns across the globe have significantly reduced oil demand, impacting refinery run rates. This has aided in reducing sulphur liquidity, supporting the short term view.

Meena Chauhan, Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.

The global pandemic and new wave of lockdowns in some regions continue to pose a level of uncertainty to oil demand and in turn sulphur recovery. There are positive signs in the macro economic picture on the back of the vaccine rollout but significant question marks remain.

Meena Chauhan, Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.

Matt Langworthy, Analsyt for Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.

Production cuts globally at refineries have left supply tight heading into the fourth quarter, firming prices. This has been compounded by major exporters in the Middle East prioritising sulphur tonnes to contracts before spot sales.

Meena Chauhan, Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.

The risk of a second Covid-19 wave over the winter period continues to fuel the trend of forward trading of sulphur cargoes. Downward pressure in some sectors for demand is likely as the macro economic forecast remains challenging.

Sulphur demand losses for production of phosphoric acid are forecast at 2.2 million t/a in 2020. Factoring in demand gains in markets such as Morocco, the sector is expected to see a drop of 800,000 t/a in 2020. Recovery is forecast from 2021 with a 2 million t/a increase forecast.

Meena Chauhan , Head of Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Research, Argus Media, assesses price trends and the market outlook for sulphur.