Key facts
- India has suspended sulphur exports.
- Market participants expect Indian refiners to be unable to export sulphur.
- Reliance Industries is India's main sulphur exporter.
- India exported 356,900t of sulphur from January to April.
- Global sulphur market is already constrained due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- India's sulphur imports fell by 26% in January-May due to the US-Iran war.
India's suspension of sulphur exports is expected to further reduce availability in the seaborne sulphur market. While official documentation is pending, market participants widely understand that Indian refiners will be unable to export sulphur until further notice. The discussion around export restrictions began in April, following a call by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for a minimum six-month ban on elemental sulphur exports, citing tightening supply, rising prices, and potential disruption to fertilizer production.
The export suspension is anticipated to primarily impact Reliance Industries (RIL), India's largest sulphur exporter, with shipments typically originating from Bedi port. India exported 356,900 tonnes of sulphur between January and April, according to Global Trade Tracker data. No cargoes were shipped in May as refiners prioritized domestic contract customers. China and Brazil were the primary destinations for these exports, receiving 142,900 tonnes and 110,000 tonnes respectively, with remaining volumes going to Indonesia.
This reduction in Indian exports occurs amid an already constrained global sulphur market, exacerbated by the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. India itself is heavily dependent on imported sulphur for its fertilizer production, having imported 2.25 million tonnes in 2025, with approximately 84% sourced from the Middle East. These imports saw a 26% year-on-year decrease to 698,200 tonnes in January-May, attributed to the outbreak of the US-Iran war. Concerns are also mounting among sulphuric acid exporters regarding potential government extensions of export restrictions to sulphuric acid, though no official notice has been reported.