Sulfur in 2025 sold at an average of about $180 per metric ton at U.S. producers, nearly four times the $46.42 of 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. World production of sulfur in all forms was about 84 million tons. U.S. output slipped about 3%. This article summarizes the USGS sulfur chapter, explains the main numbers and flags what the chapter does not say.
Who produces sulfur?
The USGS lists 2025 production in all forms, in thousand metric tons:
- China: 19,000
- United States: 8,100
- Russia: 7,500
- Saudi Arabia: 7,200
- United Arab Emirates: 6,300
- Canada: 5,000
- Kazakhstan: 4,800
- India: 3,700
- Qatar: 3,100
- South Korea: 3,100
- Japan: 2,700
The world total is 84,000. By our own arithmetic, China makes about 23% and the United States about 10%. The table footnotes mark some country figures as reported for 2024, so readers should treat the list as a rough ranking.
How much sulfur is there?
The USGS describes the resource as large. Elemental sulfur in evaporite and volcanic deposits, plus sulfur tied to natural gas, petroleum, tar sands and metal sulfides, is about 5 billion tons. Sulfur in gypsum and anhydrite is effectively unlimited. Sulfur in coal, oil shale and organic-rich shale is about 600 billion tons, though recovery would need low-cost methods. The U.S. share of the world resource is about one fifth. The chapter gives no numeric reserves.
What is sulfur used for?
The USGS says about 90% of sulfur consumed is in the form of sulfuric acid. It gives no further end-use breakdown in the copy we read. It notes that lower phosphate rock consumption in 2025 slightly reduced sulfur demand for fertilizer. See our report on phosphate rock in 2025 for that link, and on potash in 2025 for another fertilizer mineral.
How did the price move?
The average unit value of elemental sulfur was $90.40 per ton in 2021, $177.80 in 2022, $58.90 in 2023, $46.42 in 2024 and an estimated $180 in 2025. By our own arithmetic, the 2025 price is about 3.9 times the 2024 price. Tampa contract prices, per long ton, were $116 at the start of 2025, $270 in early April, $252 in early July and $310 in early October. The fourth-quarter level was the highest since the second quarter of 2022. The value of shipments was about $1.4 billion, roughly $1 billion more than in 2024.
How did U.S. production change?
Total U.S. production fell about 3%, from 8,320 thousand tons to 8,100. Recovered elemental sulfur from refineries and natural gas plants was 7,600, and other forms were 500. Louisiana and Texas accounted for about 54% of elemental output. Byproduct sulfuric acid was about 6% of total production, and the USGS expected it to decline slightly because of planned maintenance at several nonferrous smelters.
How dependent is the United States on imports?
Net import reliance was an estimated 14% in 2025, the same as 2024 and down from 24% in 2021. Domestic elemental sulfur met 63% of consumption, byproduct acid about 3% and imported sulfur and sulfuric acid 34%. Imports of recovered elemental sulfur fell from 3,470 thousand tons in 2021 to an estimated 2,000, about 42% lower by our arithmetic. For 2021 to 2024, all sulfur imports came from Canada (53%), Mexico (11%), Kazakhstan (5%) and Iraq (4%). Apparent consumption was 9,100 thousand tons, down from 10,600 in 2021.
Is sulfur recycled?
The USGS says 2.5 million to 5 million tons of spent sulfuric acid is typically reclaimed each year. The chapter does not give a 2025 figure. Every listed sulfur and sulfuric acid tariff line is free, and there is no government stockpile. The depletion allowance is 22% for both domestic and foreign production. Reclaimed acid is a quiet but large source of supply that does not show in the production table.
What does the trade record show?
Shipments of all forms were 7,900 thousand tons in 2025, against 8,080 in 2024. Exports of recovered elemental sulfur fell from 2,080 to an estimated 1,800, about 13% lower by our own arithmetic, while imports of sulfuric acid held near 1,100. Exports of sulfuric acid were only 65. Apparent consumption of all forms drifted down from 10,600 thousand tons in 2021 to 9,100, about 14% lower. Producer stocks stayed near 115 thousand tons, and employment was 2,400 people in every year. The pattern is of a stable domestic sector whose volumes shrank slightly while its price jumped, so the revenue gain came from price, not from tonnage.
How to read the numbers
Sulfur is counted by sulfur content, and all forms are combined for world totals. The unit value is for elemental sulfur at the producer. Contract prices at Tampa are a separate benchmark and are quoted per long ton. Estimates for 2025 are first reads that the USGS may revise.
How does sulfur connect to other coverage?
Sulfur comes from processing other materials. See our reports on copper in 2025, zinc in 2025 and the USGS summary of U.S. mineral production.
What should readers watch for next?
Readers can watch contract prices, refinery runs and the next USGS edition, which replaces estimates with reported data.
Glossary
- Elemental sulfur: pure sulfur, usually a yellow solid
- Sulfuric acid: the most widely used industrial acid, made from sulfur
- Byproduct: a material recovered while processing another one
- Net import reliance: imports minus exports, as a share of apparent consumption
- Long ton: a unit of 2,240 pounds
These definitions are general explanations and are not quoted from the USGS.
What is not covered here?
We omit the 2024 versus 2025 footnotes for individual countries, the tariff schedule and any price forecast.
Key facts at a glance
- World production, 2025: about 84 million tons
- China: 19 million tons, about 23%
- U.S. output: 8.1 million tons, down about 3%
- Elemental sulfur price: about $180 a ton
- U.S. net import reliance: 14%
Frequently asked questions
Which country produces the most sulfur?
China, at about 19 million tons in 2025.
What is sulfur mostly used for?
About 90% is used as sulfuric acid.
Why did the sulfur price rise?
The USGS reports the rise but gives no single cause.
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