Global sulfur production volume 2023, by country

In 2023, China produced around 19 million metric tons of sulfur, making it by far the world's leading sulfur producer. Sulfur is one of the most common chemical elements found in nature. It is a pale yellow, tasteless, and odorless brittle solid commonly found in volcanic regions and hot springs. Nowadays very little sulfur is mined from nature, as most of the production is recovered due to environmental reasons. Byproduct elemental sulfur recovered from natural gas and petroleum is the main source of sulfur worldwide.

Sulfur in the U.S.

The United States is the second-largest producer of sulfur worldwide, ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia. In 2023, sulfur production in the U.S. reached an estimated 8.6 million metric tons. From that amount, roughly 93 percent was recovered elemental sulfur. Apart from being one of the world's main sulfur producers, the United States’ sulfur consumption is also among the highest in the world, reaching nearly 10 million metric tons in 2023.

Global sulfuric acid market

Most of the sulfur produced worldwide is transformed into sulfuric acid, an important commodity chemical with many applications. Sulfuric acid is extensively used as a battery component, in fertilizer manufacturing, metal ore leaching, and as an intermediate chemical in the production of numerous other compounds. In 2021, the global market volume of sulfuric acid amounted to around 260 million metric tons, and it is forecast to surpass 300 million metric tons by 2028. By that same year, the market value of sulfuric acid is expected to surpass 12 billion U.S. dollars.