Kuwait’s state-owned producer KPC has increased the Kuwait Sulphur Price (KSP) for December to $495/t FOB, marking a sharp $95/t jump from October. This continues the strong upward trend seen over the past three months, with the December KSP now $5/t higher than the previous record peak of June 2022.
At current freight rates, the December KSP reflects a delivered cost to China of $517–521/t CFR. Freight on 27 November was assessed at $22–24/t to south China and $24–26/t to Chinese river ports for 30,000–35,000 t shipments.
The announcement comes shortly after Qatar set its December sulphur price at the same level, underscoring a firm global sulphur market driven by tightening supply and steady demand.
Why Sulphur Prices Are Rising
Sulphur values have strengthened throughout the year due to several global developments:
New sulphur-burning capacity has come online in Morocco for fertilizer production and Indonesia for nickel refining, boosting demand.
Russian sulphur supply has tightened sharply as conflict-related damage disrupted operations at major oil and gas processing sites.
The sharp price increases have made sulphur too costly for many fertilizer and chemical producers, yet demand has not fallen enough to slow the upward trend.
With supply constraints persisting and downstream demand remaining resilient, the Kuwait Sulphur Price December revision highlights a market that continues to face upward pressure heading into early 2026.
Sources: Argus
