How much sulphur does China import, and from where?

China declared 9,608,449 t in 2025 at USD 265/t CIF. Oman supplied 16.0%, the UAE 13.1%, Canada 12.3%, the Republic of Korea 12.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.2%, Kuwait 6.7%, Japan 6.4%, Qatar 6.0% and India 5.6%. In the first half of 2026 imports fell 57.7% to about 2.26 million t, and Korea, Oman and Canada became the largest origins.

What import duty does sulphur pay in China?

The 2026 tariff sets a provisional import rate of 1% on 25030000 against the 3% MFN rate, under the Customs Tariff Commission's 2026 Tariff Adjustment Plan. The provisional rate applies to MFN origins; a buyer importing under a free trade agreement should check the agreement rate for the origin.

How is sulphur inspected at discharge?

As a hazardous chemical. The importer declares the hazard class and UN 1350 through the Single Window and files a declaration of conformity and a Chinese safety data sheet under GACC Announcement 2020 No. 129; the Chinese hazard label is not required for bulk cargo. Customs inspects at the discharge port, so the load-port SGS or Intertek certificate should use the same test methods.

Which ports take sulphur?

The Yangtze ports of Zhenjiang and Nanjing, and Fangchenggang in Guangxi, are among the main sulphur ports, serving acid and phosphate plants inland. Stocks across China's sulphur ports fell to 748,800 t on 23 June 2026, the lowest since July 2017. The discharge port and its draft on the laycan set the parcel size.

North Asia · China

Granular Sulphur Suppliers CFR China (Zhenjiang, Nanjing and Fangchenggang)

The world's largest sulphur importer took 9.61 Mt in 2025 and less than half the 2025 pace in the first half of 2026

China imports its sulphur under 25030000 and declared 9,608,449 t in 2025, worth USD 2,547.7 million, an average of USD 265 per tonne CIF, against 9.95 million t at about USD 116/t in 2024. The supply was spread: Oman shipped 1,539,719 t (16.0%), the UAE 1,259,381 t (13.1%), Canada 1,186,564 t (12.3%), the Republic of Korea 1,170,524 t (12.2%), Saudi Arabia 885,922 t (9.2%), Kuwait 640,891 t (6.7%), Japan 613,508 t (6.4%), Qatar 576,371 t (6.0%) and India 542,850 t (5.6%), with Kazakhstan, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Malaysia and other origins making up the remaining 12.4%. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain together supplied 35.4%, and that is the tonnage the Strait of Hormuz restriction took out in 2026: on customs data reported by SMM, imports fell from about 0.50 million t in January to 0.147 million t in June, 2.26 million t for the half against 5.34 million t a year earlier, and the Republic of Korea (20.5%), Oman (19.0%) and Canada (17.7%) became the largest origins. Port stocks fell to 748,800 t on 23 June 2026, the lowest since July 2017, at Zhenjiang, Nanjing and Fangchenggang among the main sulphur ports, and granular sulphur at Zhenjiang traded at RMB 9,200/t on 24 June after RMB 11,750 on 11 June. Demand is acid: China consumed 117.5 million t of sulphuric acid in 2024 on the China Sulphuric Acid Industry Association's count, with growth from phosphate and compound fertilisers, titanium dioxide, caprolactam and lithium iron phosphate.

For 2026 China's tariff gives sulphur a provisional import rate of 1% against the 3% MFN rate (25030000, item 82 of the provisional rate table). Industrial sulphur is sold in China to GB/T 2449.1-2021, Sulphur for industrial use, Part 1: Solid product, in force since 1 July 2022, which tests sulphur content on a dry basis, moisture, ash, acidity as H2SO4, organic matter as carbon, arsenic and iron. Sulphur is handled as a hazardous chemical: under GACC Announcement 2020 No. 129 the importer declares the hazard class and UN number (UN 1350) and files a declaration of conformity and a Chinese safety data sheet, with the Chinese hazard label waived for bulk cargo, and customs inspects at discharge. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers formed granular sulphur (99.8% min, 2-6 mm, friability at or under 5%) in Handysize to Supramax lots CFR the Yangtze and South China ports, from Oman, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Japan and other origins open at the time, with SGS or Intertek certification at load and the producing refinery or gas plant named on the certificate of origin. Send the grade against GB/T 2449.1, the quantity, bulk or bagged, the discharge port, the importer of record, the laycan and the payment terms, and the enquiry is screened and worked against them.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices salt and sulphur bulk freight on LaycanDesk.

The market in figures

China sulphur imports, 2025 (25030000): 9,608,449 t · USD 2,547.7 m · USD 265/t CIF (2024: 9.95 Mt at about USD 116/t)
Main origins, 2025: Oman 16.0% · UAE 13.1% · Canada 12.3% · Korea 12.2% · Saudi Arabia 9.2% · Kuwait 6.7% · Japan 6.4% · Qatar 6.0% · India 5.6%
First half 2026: About 2.26 Mt (-57.7%) · June 0.147 Mt · Korea 20.5%, Oman 19.0%, Canada 17.7%
Ports and price, June 2026: Port stocks 748,800 t (23 Jun), lowest since July 2017 · Zhenjiang granular RMB 9,200/t (24 Jun)
Duty, 2026: MFN 3% · provisional rate 1%
Standard and inspection: GB/T 2449.1-2021 (in force 1 Jul 2022) · hazardous chemical, UN 1350, GACC Announcement 2020 No. 129

Landed values are the importing country's declared CIF, not CBIL prices.

Questions buyers ask

How much sulphur does China import, and from where?: China declared 9,608,449 t in 2025 at USD 265/t CIF. Oman supplied 16.0%, the UAE 13.1%, Canada 12.3%, the Republic of Korea 12.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.2%, Kuwait 6.7%, Japan 6.4%, Qatar 6.0% and India 5.6%. In the first half of 2026 imports fell 57.7% to about 2.26 million t, and Korea, Oman and Canada became the largest origins.
What import duty does sulphur pay in China?: The 2026 tariff sets a provisional import rate of 1% on 25030000 against the 3% MFN rate, under the Customs Tariff Commission's 2026 Tariff Adjustment Plan. The provisional rate applies to MFN origins; a buyer importing under a free trade agreement should check the agreement rate for the origin.
Which standard does the cargo have to meet?: Chinese buyers specify GB/T 2449.1-2021, Sulphur for industrial use, Part 1: Solid product, in force since 1 July 2022. It covers sulphur content on a dry basis, moisture, ash, acidity as H2SO4, organic matter as carbon, arsenic and iron. State the grade the contract refers to, so the load-port certificate reports against the same parameters.
How is sulphur inspected at discharge?: As a hazardous chemical. The importer declares the hazard class and UN 1350 through the Single Window and files a declaration of conformity and a Chinese safety data sheet under GACC Announcement 2020 No. 129; the Chinese hazard label is not required for bulk cargo. Customs inspects at the discharge port, so the load-port SGS or Intertek certificate should use the same test methods.
Which ports take sulphur?: The Yangtze ports of Zhenjiang and Nanjing, and Fangchenggang in Guangxi, are among the main sulphur ports, serving acid and phosphate plants inland. Stocks across China's sulphur ports fell to 748,800 t on 23 June 2026, the lowest since July 2017. The discharge port and its draft on the laycan set the parcel size.