In September 2026, Indonesia's ports took in a sudden flood of sulphur, over 700,000 tonnes in a single month, a figure that dwarfs the lean August that came before it and towers over the same month a year earlier. Much of that flow arrived by a narrow route, with Malaysia supplying nearly two-thirds of the total, a dependence that shapes the country's supply quietly beneath the surface of the numbers. Even as the sulphur tide rose, demand for sulphuric acid, the product sulphur often becomes, slipped back, a reminder that raw inputs and their processed forms do not always move together. What
Indonesia's Sulphur Imports Surge 156% in September as Sulphuric Acid Imports Fall
704,500 tonnes of sulphur in a single month
Mark
Start with the headline number. Why does 704,500 tonnes stand out?
Mimi
It's more than two and a half times August's 275,300 tonnes, and well above the 428,700 tonnes of September last year. Both comparisons are large.
Luke
Worth noting that one month is one month. A 155.9% monthly jump partly reflects how low August was.
Mark
Where did the sulphur come from?
Mimi
Mostly Malaysia, 475,900 tonnes, and almost all of it landed at Belawan. Canada and the UAE followed, each feeding different ports.
Luke
That concentration is the real feature of the data. Whether it's a supply risk is an inference; the figures only show the share.
Mark
And the sulphuric acid side?
Mimi
Imports fell to about 57,100 tonnes, down 21.3% on the month and 36.5% on the year. India supplied most of it.
Luke
The data doesn't say why. We can't tell if it's demand, pricing or timing.
Mark
What about exports?
Mimi
Sulphur exports are about 522 tonnes, trivial next to imports. Sulphuric acid exports were zero.
Luke
Right, so the percentage growth in exports sounds dramatic but the base is tiny.
El Pulso
- Sulphur imports surged to 704,500 tonnes in September, nearly tripling the August total and jumping 64% over last year.
- Malaysia alone delivered 475,900 tonnes, so one supplier now carries most of the weight of the country's sulphur supply.
- Belawan port absorbed the bulk of the arrivals, funneling almost the entire Malaysian cargo through a single gateway.
- Sulphuric acid imports fell sharply to about 57,100 tonnes, a 36% drop, while exports remained at zero.
- Observers are watching whether this sulphur spike holds next month or proves to be a one-time burst.
In September 2026, Indonesia's ports took in a sudden flood of sulphur, over 700,000 tonnes in a single month, a figure that dwarfs the lean August that came before it and towers over the same month a year earlier. Much of that flow arrived by a narrow route, with Malaysia supplying nearly two-thirds of the total, a dependence that shapes the country's supply quietly beneath the surface of the numbers. Even as the sulphur tide rose, demand for sulphuric acid, the product sulphur often becomes, slipped back, a reminder that raw inputs and their processed forms do not always move together. What remains unsettled is whether this surge marks a new steady level or a single heavy month in an ongoing rhythm.
Indonesian customs data for September 2026 shows sulphur arriving at the country's ports in a sudden rush: 704,500 tonnes in one month. That is almost 156% more than August and 64% more than September last year. The figures include both natural and refined sulphur.
Most of the volume came through one route. The port of Belawan handled 468,700 tonnes, nearly all of it from Malaysia, which supplied 475,900 tonnes across the country. Canada and the United Arab Emirates followed far behind, with smaller cargoes spread across several other ports and origins.
Sulphuric acid moved the other way. Imports fell to about 57,100 tonnes, down from August and sharply lower than a year earlier, with India and Japan as the main sources. Indonesia recorded no acid exports in the month.
The picture is one of heavy sulphur buying concentrated in a single supplier alongside weaker acid purchases. The open question is whether September was a one-off or the start of a sustained level, and how much the reliance on Malaysia would matter if that supply were disrupted.
Indonesian customs data for September 2026 shows a sharp jump in sulphur arriving at the country's ports: 704,500 tonnes in a single month. That is 155.9% more than August, when imports stood at 275,300 tonnes, and 64.3% more than the 428,700 tonnes recorded in September a year earlier. The figures include both natural and refined sulphur.
Most of the volume came through one door. The port of Belawan took in 468,700 tonnes, the largest share of any port, and nearly all of it, 468,000 tonnes, came from Malaysia. Smaller amounts reached Belawan from South Korea, Singapore and China. Weda received 81,900 tonnes, mostly from the United Arab Emirates (73,500 tonnes), with smaller cargoes from the Philippines (4,200 tonnes), South Korea (3,800 tonnes) and Japan (about 400 tonnes).
Morowali received 53,300 tonnes, drawn from Canada (45,000 tonnes) and Vietnam (8,300 tonnes). Gresik took 50,200 tonnes, of which 45,200 tonnes came from Canada and 5,000 tonnes from Malaysia.
By country of origin, Malaysia led with 475,900 tonnes, followed by Canada at 90,200 tonnes and the UAE at 73,800 tonnes. Singapore supplied 27,100 tonnes, South Korea 11,500, Vietnam 8,300, the Philippines 7,200, Brunei 3,000, Japan 2,400 and Oman 2,300. Saudi Arabia also appears among the sources.
Exports of sulphur are tiny by comparison but moved sharply in percentage terms. Indonesia shipped about 521.74 tonnes in September, up 275.3% from 139.00 tonnes in August. Nothing was recorded in the same month a year earlier. Malaysia took roughly 515.74 tonnes, more than 98% of the total, with 467.74 tonnes going out through Belawan and 48 tonnes through Tanjung Perak. South Korea received about 6 tonnes.
Sulphuric acid moved the other way. Imports came to about 57,128.47 tonnes, down 21.3% from 72,612.07 tonnes in August and down 36.5% from 89,896.68 tonnes a year earlier. India supplied 48,100 tonnes and Japan 9,000 tonnes. Indonesia recorded no sulphuric acid exports in September, the latest month in which that has been the case.
The data points to a month of heavy sulphur buying concentrated in a single supplier, Malaysia, alongside weaker acid purchases. The open question is whether September's surge was a one-off or the start of a sustained level, and how much the heavy reliance on Malaysia matters if that supply were disrupted.
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en Shanghai Metals Market ↗
General News