Sulfur Prices Surge, Sulfur Products Procurement Should Be Added Or Wait And See?
Article Highlights
1. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered an unprecedented sulfur supply crunch, with domestic sulfur prices surging over 600% from the 2024 low.
2. Sulfur-based feed additives including phosphate products, sulfate trace minerals, methionine and taurine face continuous cost pressure amid full-chain cost transmission.
3. Differentiated procurement suggestions for all sulfur-containing feed raw materials are sorted out for reference.
4. Short, medium and long-term industrial supply chain restructuring trends are predicted based on industrial data.
5. Multiple mature formula optimization solutions with non-sulfur alternative raw materials are provided to cut production costs fundamentally.
Since the start of 2026, global sulfur supply has suffered severe disruption driven by geopolitical conflicts across the Middle East, the core production and trading hub of sulfur resources worldwide. Statistics from Longzhong Information and Zhuochuang Information show that domestic sulfur prices have climbed more than 160% year-to-date, while the price gap compared with the 2024 bottom has exceeded 600%. International FOB sulfur prices have surpassed USD 1,000 per metric ton, hitting a ten-year record high.
As an indispensable core raw material for the production of multiple feed additives and veterinary drugs, sulfur-related cost increases cannot be digested internally by manufacturers and will be fully transferred downstream. Starting from March 2026, the whole category of sulfur-dependent products has maintained an upward price trend, covering feed-grade phosphates, inorganic sulfate trace mineral additives, taurine, methionine, and sulfonamide veterinary drug raw materials.
To help feed and veterinary enterprises cope with supply shortages and rising formula costs, this paper integrates authentic domestic and overseas industrial data and practical application experience, sorting out targeted procurement plans and low-cost alternative material systems. Enterprises can mitigate price fluctuation risks via three dimensions: scientific inventory management, standardized order scheduling and feed formula reconstruction.
In the short run, sulfur prices will remain bullish with limited downward space; from a medium and long-term perspective, the whole sulfur chemical and feed additive industry will undergo comprehensive supply chain reconstruction. Our company operates a global cross-region supply network equipped with a professional formula R&D team, delivering integrated services including spot commodity supply, personalized formula customization and multi-region source matching. For enterprises confronted with raw material price hikes, insufficient supply and cost reduction demands, our team can provide exclusive quotations, sample testing and tailor-made supply chain solutions.
The production cost of mainstream feed additives is highly correlated with sulfur and sulfuric acid prices. We have sorted out the sulfur raw material cost proportion of each product and matched differentiated procurement strategies for corporate procurement teams to make rational decisions.
product | Sulfur/sulfuric acid cost ratio | Procurement strategy outlook |
DCP | 30%–40% | Cost rises but demand is weak, price pressure shock, it is not recommended to blindly increase inventory, normal procurement on demand |
MCP | 30%–40% | Just need to support high price shock, normal procurement on demand |
MDCP | 30%–40% | Just need to support high price shock, normal procurement on demand |
Zinc Sulfate | 25%–35% | Prices are on an upward trend and rigid replenishment on demand |
Copper sulfate
| 20%–30% | Prices continue to rise, only maintaining the base turnover inventory |
Ferrous sulfate | 25%–35% | The upward trend is clear, small batch high-frequency procurement |
Magnesium sulfate | 25%–35% | Prices rise, strictly control the inventory scale, place orders on demand |
Manganese sulfate | 20%–30% | Cost-push price increases, sign short-term orders, do not stock in large quantities |
Taurine acid | 30%–40% | Costs rise, supply is tight, it is recommended to stock moderately |
Methionine | 25%–30% （Longzhong Information） | The price is easy to rise and difficult to fall, lock just need to use |
Sodium sulfadiazine | 5%–10%（estimation） | Prices slightly stronger, quantitative on demand purchases |
Sodium sulfamethoxylate | 5%–10%（estimation） | Prices slightly stronger, quantitative on demand purchases |
Sulfadiazine sodium | 5%–10%（estimation） | Prices slightly stronger, quantitative on demand purchases |
Disclaimer: All industrial chain analysis above is for internal decision reference only, which shall not be regarded as formal investment or procurement guidance.
The cost pressure of sulfur will be transmitted layer by layer along the industrial chain without buffer space, covering sulfuric acid production, feed phosphate processing, trace mineral manufacturing, amino acid synthesis and veterinary drug production.
3.1 Sulfur to Industrial Sulfuric Acid
Per industry fixed material consumption standard, 0.33 tons of sulfur is required to produce one ton of industrial sulfuric acid, and sulfur accounts for 70%–80% of sulfuric acid’s total manufacturing cost. According to the cost model released by China Sulfuric Acid Industry Association, every USD 140/MT increase of sulfur will push up sulfuric acid unit cost by about USD 63/MT. Driven by sulfur price surges, domestic sulfuric acid prices have doubled in 2026, with mainstream market quotations approaching USD 278/MT.
3.2 Sulfuric Acid to Feed-Grade Phosphoric Acid & Phosphates
Wet-process phosphoric acid relies heavily on sulfuric acid as core intermediate material for feed phosphate products. Sulfur system costs account for 30%–60% of DCP production expenses, and each USD 140/MT sulfur price increase will raise DCP cost by USD 19–38/MT. As essential nutritional raw materials for livestock, poultry and aquaculture, feed phosphates feature the fastest cost pass-through speed in the whole feed industry chain.
3.3 Sulfuric Acid to Inorganic Sulfate Trace Element Additives
Copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate and other mainstream trace mineral additives fully adopt sulfur-based raw materials in production, with sulfur-related costs taking up 20%–40% of total cost. Cost transmission happens almost instantly; all sulfate mineral products saw a collective price rise of 15%–30% from April to May 2026.
3.4 Sulfur Feedstock to Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids
DL-methionine synthesis requires sulfur intermediates such as methyl mercaptan, with sulfur costs covering 25%–35% of total production cost. Rising sulfur prices continuously lift the manufacturing cost of methionine.
Taurine production consumes sodium bisulfite and sulfur dioxide; price increases of sulfur raw materials generate stable cost support, with a transmission lag of 2 to 3 weeks.
3.5 Sulfur Feedstock to Veterinary Drug APIs
Two major veterinary product categories are affected: sulfate antibiotics with low sulfur raw material cost proportion and slight price fluctuation; sulfonamide & sulfur heterocyclic veterinary drugs that require chlorosulfonic acid and sulfite intermediates, suffering obvious cost impact.
4.1 Supply-Side Restrictions
1. Geopolitical barriers in the Middle East: The region accounts for nearly half of global sulfur output and trade. Shipping blockages in the Strait of Hormuz led to a 72.39% year-on-year drop in China’s April sulfur import volume.
2. Reduced domestic output: Refinery equipment maintenance and crude oil processing adjustment cut domestic sulfur supply quarter-on-quarter. Port inventories shrank from 2 million tons last year to 900,000 tons, only supporting 19 days of domestic consumption.
3. National export control policy: China suspended exports of regular industrial sulfuric acid and smelter by-product sulfuric acid starting May 1, 2026, further tightening domestic sulfur resource circulation.
4.2 Sustained Rigid Market Demand
More than 80% of global sulfur is consumed for sulfuric acid manufacturing, widely used in phosphate fertilizer, metal smelting, titanium dioxide and fine chemical industries. Traditional agricultural phosphate fertilizer demand remains stable, while massive capacity expansion of lithium iron phosphate new energy materials creates incremental sulfur demand. Chemical, agriculture and new energy sectors jointly compete for limited sulfur supply.
Core Market Benchmark Data
Domestic sulfur average price at early 2026: USD 510/MT; Latest mainstream spot price: Exceed USD 1,390/MT; Increase vs 2024 trough: Over 600%. (Source: Longzhong Information, Zhuochuang Information spot quotation database)
Short-term Stage (June – December 2026)
No easing signals for Middle East geopolitical conflicts can be observed, so sulfur import shortage and low port inventory will remain unchanged. Sulfur and sulfuric acid will stay at high price levels, supporting firm quotations of phosphates, sulfate minerals, methionine, taurine and sulfonamide veterinary raw materials. Downstream enterprises will increase precautionary stockpiling, triggering periodic supply tension for rigid-demand varieties, and prices will be easy to rise yet hard to fall.
Medium-term Stage (3–12 Months)
Full-category universal price hikes will not occur; market differentiation will become the primary feature.
• Phosphates and sulfate minerals with high acid consumption, low inventory, strong rigid demand and concentrated capacity maintain the strongest price upward momentum.
• Price growth of methionine and taurine will be restricted by long-term supply contracts and global supply-demand balance.
• Sulfate veterinary APIs only witness mild cost-driven price increases without extra market upside.
Long-term Stage (2027 and Beyond)
Continuous high sulfur prices will push industrial structural transformation. Upstream phosphorus and sulfur chemical enterprises will accelerate self-sufficient sulfuric acid production, pyrite acid-making, long-term fixed-price contracts and multi-region import procurement to reduce external supply risks. Downstream feed and veterinary manufacturers will upgrade procurement evaluation standards, comprehensively assessing supply stability, raw material supporting capacity and risk resistance instead of only comparing unit prices. Integrated industrial resource advantages will become core market competitiveness.
A series of raw materials are barely affected by sulfur price fluctuations and can partially replace high-cost sulfur-containing feed additives, realizing long-term formula cost control.
6.1 Phytase (Core Recommended Substitute)
High-quality phytase effectively decomposes phytate phosphorus in feed and releases available phosphorus. For monogastric animal diets, 3–5 kg of DCP/MCP can be reduced per ton of complete feed, lowering phosphate purchasing costs directly. Meanwhile, phosphorus emissions can be reduced by over 30%, satisfying both cost-saving and environmental protection requirements. It is applicable to all livestock, poultry and aquafeed products.
6.2 Organic Trace Minerals (Core Recommended Substitute)
Amino acid chelated iron, zinc, copper and manganese can completely replace inorganic sulfate trace minerals. Large-scale breeding trials in Europe and America prove 20%–40% higher nutrient absorption efficiency, allowing lower addition dosage and completely avoiding sulfur raw material cost risks, which is the mainstream upgrading direction of the global feed industry.
6.3 Compound Formula: Betaine + Choline Chloride
Betaine can replace the methyl donor function of methionine, and choline chloride can be converted into betaine inside animal bodies. Combined usage reduces methionine addition volume by 10%–20% in feed formulas, with mature technology widely applied globally.
6.4 Non-Sulfur Inorganic Trace Minerals
As supplementary alternative materials to partially replace sulfate mineral additives.
Our Professional Supply Chain & Technical Support
Our team owns a global cross-regional raw material supply network and professional feed formula R&D laboratory. We provide all-round services for enterprises suffering from raw material price surge and supply instability:
1. Spot supply of feed additives and mineral raw materials with stable delivery cycle
2. Customized feed formula optimization to cut overall production costs
3. Multi-region raw material source matching to disperse supply risks
4. Free sample provision, professional quotation and exclusive long-term supply solutions
