QatarEnergy Marketing rolls over March Qatar Sulphur Price

QatarEnergy Marketing has rolled over its March Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) at $520 per tonne FOB Ras Laffan/Mesaieed.
The announcement was postponed from 1 March to 4 March because of the US-Israel strike on Iran and subsequent regional counter-attacks. On 3 March QatarEnergy confirmed it has halted sulphur production at its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed facilities following a drone attack on 2 March. The stoppage covers LNG and all associated products and remains in force until further notice.
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to commercial shipping. Multiple vessels have been hit, insurance cover has been withdrawn on key routes, and a backlog of bulk carriers now sits outside the strait. Middle East sulphur exports, which account for close to half of global seaborne supply, are stalled.
The result is a material tightening of the global sulphur market. Chinese spot prices have already risen 5–7 % to around 4,250 yuan per tonne ex-works, with import parity moving sharply higher.
Sulphuric acid prices will follow. One tonne of sulphur produces approximately three tonnes of acid. While acid plants in Europe, China, South Korea and Japan are not directly affected by the conflict, the feedstock cost increase will transmit immediately into acid pricing worldwide.
For sulphur traders this is a clear supply shock. Qatar’s output is offline, regional loadings are blocked, and alternative origins cannot fill the gap at current levels. Secure Canadian, Russian or North African tonnes now or face significantly higher replacement costs. Acid buyers should lock in pricing or prepare for upward revisions across contracts.
The Middle East sulphur window has closed. The market is tighter today than it was last week, and prices will reflect that reality.