Trends in sulphur markets
A look at the major factors influencing the sulphur market around the world.
A look at the major factors influencing the sulphur market around the world.
Shell Global Solutions International BV (Shell) has awarded Worley two contracts for PT Pertamina EP Cepu’s (PEPC) new sulphuric acid plant in Indonesia. This plant is part of the Jambaran-Tiung Biru utilised gas field project for PEPC, which is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina-Indonesia’s state-owned energy company. Under the contracts, Worley will supply be supplying Chemetics’ cooled oxidation reactor (CORE) technology. This is the first time that CORE will be paired with Shell’s Cansolv SO2 capture technology. Worley gained the Chemetics technology as part of its Jacobs Energy, Chemicals and Resources acquisition last year. Cansolv controls the emissions and captures additional by-product value from the sulphur dioxide emitted from various refinery flue gas streams (such as cracking units, process heaters and boilers), sulphur plants and spent acid regeneration units. Sulphur dioxide can be recycled to the sulphur recovery unit to be produced as marketable sulphur or converted to sulphuric acid.
We profile the US ‘big three’ North American phosphate producers, Mosaic, Nutrien and Simplot, and disruptive market entrant Itafos.
Although North America is no longer the world’s largest sulphur exporter, it remains a major producer and consumer, and there are still significant exports and imports of sulphur into and out of the region.
Concerns are growing about the health impacts of the heavy metals present in phosphate-based fertilizers and their accumulation in soils. In response, regulators and international agencies are currently seeking to limit human exposure to these potentially harmful elements. Encouragingly, a number of sustainable options with minimal market impacts are available, as Mikhail Pleschev, Boris Levin and Juan von Gernet of PhosAgro explain.
Leading EU phosphate and NPK fertilizer producers are profiled, including EuroChem, Fertiberia, Grupa Azoty, ICL, Prayon and Yara.
The theme of the 26th Arab Fertilizer Association Annual Fertilizer Forum & Exhibition is ‘Reshaping the industry future’. This year’s Forum will be held at the Semiramis Intercontinental, Cairo, 11-13 February 2020. New AFA Secretary General, Raed Soub , provides a preview of what is the Arab region’s showcase annual fertilizer event.
CRU events will convene the 2020 Phosphates International Conference & Exhibition in Paris at the Marriott Rive Gauche between 8-10 March.
ChemBe process from EcoPhos merges beneficiation with chemical processing to generate high-quality phosphoric acid and dicalcium phosphate products. Mohamed Takhim , the CEO and founder of EcoPhos, describes how the ChemBe process is being implemented at the Evergrow project in Egypt.
Fertilizer International presents a round-up of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizer projects.