Indonesia's Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Market Trends
The recent activation of new sulphur combustion facilities in Indonesia has led some buyers to favor sourcing elemental sulphur over sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid, primarily used in manufacturing battery components such as nickel sulphate and mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), is produced through sulphur combustion, especially in regions like Sulawesi and Obi Island. Typically, burning one tonne of sulphur yields approximately three tonnes of sulphuric acid.
Upcoming Sulphur Burning Capacities
In February, metals producer QMB New Energy Materials commissioned a sulphur burner with a capacity of 660,000 tonnes per year, with plans to activate an additional 1 million tonnes per year burner by year's end. Meanwhile, stainless steel manufacturer Tsingshan is expected to introduce two sulphur burners in Weda Bay and Morowali this year, collectively adding 5 million tonnes annually to capacity.
Trade Data and Import Trends
Trade data from the Global Trade Tracker (GTT) reveals that Indonesia's sulphur imports soared by 74% year-on-year to 2.59 million tonnes between January and June. Conversely, ...