Sulphur

Sulphur is a yellow, non-metallic element that is widely used in the chemical industry, particularly for producing sulphuric acid. It is extracted from natural sources like sulphur-rich ores and is produced as a byproduct of oil refining. The leading producers of sulphur are China, the United States, and Russia. In the iron & steel industry, sulphur is at times used in foundry coke or also seldomly as an alloy to improve machinability.

Sub-Category	Abbreviation	Core Content Range	Size Range
Ferrosulphur	FeS	S 20-100%	0-250 mm
Pyrite	FeS2	S 30-60%	3-50 mm
Sulphur Granules	S Granules	Various	n/a

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of sulphur with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of sulphur and buyers to discover new suppliers of sulphur.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows steel mills, foundries, and other consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

The leading producers of sulphur are:

• China – ~30% of global sulphur production, primarily as a byproduct of oil refining
• United States – ~20%, producing sulphur through natural extraction and refining
• Russia – ~15%, focusing on sulphur production from oil refining
• Canada – ~<15% of global sulphur production
• Saudi Arabia – ~10% producing sulphur as a byproduct of refining.

Sulphur is extracted from natural sources such as sulphur-rich ores or recovered as a byproduct of oil and gas refining. It is refined and purified for industrial use, primarily in the production of sulphuric acid. The purified sulphur is formed into granules or transported as molten sulphur for use in various industries.

Sulphur is primarily used in the production of sulphuric acid (~50%), which is a key ingredient in fertilisers and various chemical processes. It is also used in petroleum refining (~20%) to remove impurities from crude oil. Additionally, sulphur is employed in the production of industrial chemicals (~10%) and in the rubber industry (~8%) for vulcanisation processes. In the iron and steel industry, sulphur is used in a few critical ways, although its presence is generally minimised due to its negative effects on steel quality. When not being minimised, sulphur, for example, helps control the graphite formation in cast iron production, improving the metal’s machinability and wear resistance.