Metso has booked the third part of its order for JSC Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex’s copper smelter project based on the equipment and project services delivery contracts announced on August 9, 2024. The first parts of the order, worth €146 million were booked in 4Q 2024, and the second part, worth €50 million in 1Q 2025. The order value recorded in 4Q 2025 is €70 million.
CRU’s annual Sulphur+Sulphuric Acid Expoconference was held from November 3rd to 5th, at The Woodlands, Texas.
The global sulphur market’s bullish momentum from late 2025 has firmly carried over into the New Year, with prices pushing forward across most key regions despite a slow return to spot trading after the holiday break. With spot prices now past their 2022 highs and testing levels not seen since the 2008 peak, affordability has become the market’s central theme. The market remains divergent, with some buyers forced to accept the rally due to tight supply, while others, particularly in China, are showing clear signs of demand destruction.
Around 1 million gallons of sulphuric acid was released from an industrial facility, some of it into the Houston Ship Channel, in late December. A pipeline ruptured when an elevated walkway collapsed at the BWC Terminals facility in Channelview, east of Houston. Two people were transported to a hospital and subsequently released, while 44 others were treated and released at the scene. BWC Terminals said in a statement the majority of the sulphuric acid released was into a designated containment area, with a smaller, unknown amount entering the ship channel.
Korea Zinc says it will partner with the US government to construct a critical minerals smelter in Clarksville, Tennessee, producing zinc, lead, and copper. Korea Zinc will begin site preparation next year, followed by phased commercial operations from 2029. The plant is planned to process around 1.0 million t/a of raw materials and turn out 540,000 st/a of finished products. Processing of gold, silver, and key strategic minerals such as antimony, indium, bismuth, tellurium, cadmium, palladium, gallium and germanium, are also planned in what is being touted as a "state-of-the-art" facility. Sulphuric acid and semiconductor-grade sulphuric acid will also be produced. The output will include 300,000 t/a of zinc production, 200,000 t/a of lead, 35,000 t/a of copper and 5,100 t/a of rare and strategic metals. Development will be through Korea Zinc’s US subsidiary, Crucible Metals.
A complete listing of all articles and news items that appeared in Sulphur magazine during 2025.
• CRU’s latest global sulphur forecast is for a January price peak before a decline, with the key downside risk being a sharper correction if the supply deficit closes faster than expected. The global sulphur market’s upward momentum has been slowing, with attention shifting to geopolitical risks in Iran. Despite limited physical disruption being reported, the upside risk to prices could be substantial. Following the US bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility back in June, supply from Iran became bottlenecked, despite good production levels, as vessel owners became unwilling to call at ports like Bandar Abbas due to the increased risk.
The switch towards battery technologies like lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is leading to major growth in demand for sulphur and sulphuric acid.
Madhya Bharat Agro Products has announced board approval for a major capacity expansion at its Dhule manufacturing facility. The expansion represents a comprehensive enhancement of the company's fertilizer production capabilities, including 330,000 t/a of diammonium phosphate and NPK fertilizer, a 66,000 t/a phosphoric acid plant, and a 396,000 t/a sulphuric acid plant. The expansion plan is part of a strategy of vertical integration in fertilizer production. The addition of phosphoric acid and sulphuric acid production capabilities will support the primary DAP/NPK manufacturing operations, creating operational synergies and potentially reducing input costs, according to the company.
Süd-Chemie discusses the importance of pressure drop in a sulphuric acid plant and the many benefits that can be gained from using a guard bed, typically in the first bed of the converter to safeguard the catalyst bed and increase campaign life.