Sulfur

Tampa:

The second-quarter contract price of molten sulfur delivered to Tampa closed at $103/lt CFR, $27/lt below the last-quarter value of $130/lt, a decrease of 20.8%. Reports of both reduced run rates from phosphate producers and planned summer turnarounds at phosphate plants were noted suppressing demand.

US Gulf:

US Gulf prices were unchanged at $80-$90/mt FOB. Sources continued to report minimal demand and growing inventories.

Brazil:

Players reported Brazil spot pricing steady at $110-$120/mt CFR. The market was estimated to have covered 50% of its needs, and some players believe buyers might become active again in the week ahead.

Vancouver:   

Vancouver prices continued in the $80-$85/mt FOB range, unmoved from last week, with a lack of demand from China blamed for a slight negative sentiment in the market.

Alberta:

Based on both molten sulfur cargoes contracted into the US market and solid tons sold through the Vancouver export market, Alberta sulfur netbacks were estimated at around (-)$12-$33/mt, unchanged from the prior report.

West Coast:

West Coast prills were indicated on par with Vancouver at $80-$85/mt FOB range, steady from last week.

Molten sulfur contracts for loading in the second quarter were reported at $98-$106/lt FOB, falling from $125-$135/lt FOB in the prior period.

China:     

China spot sulfur remained at $105-$110/mt CFR. Sources cited both a lack of interest from buyers and a buildup of inventories at the ports as keeping the market soft.

ADNOC:

Prilled sulfur produced by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) was posted at $84/mt FOB Ruwais for loading in May, a $31/mt fall from $115/mt FOB in April. The change represented a nearly 27% decline.

Qatar:

May Muntajat solid sulfur cargoes were posted at $86/mt FOB Ras Laffan, sources said, a $24/mt drop from April’s $110/mt FOB.