Who buys sulphur in Madagascar?

The Ambatovy nickel-cobalt operation, almost alone. Its refinery near Toamasina makes sulphuric acid from imported sulphur to leach laterite ore. The purchase is made by the operating company for a named cargo and laycan; there is no distributor market behind it.

How much does it need?

About 500,000 t a year when both acid lines run at full rate, which is a 45,000 to 50,000 t cargo roughly every five weeks. Imports were 443,500 t in 2025. The 2026 requirement is lower because the plant was shut from February and restarted its acid lines in stages from late May.

Which origins can replace Gulf sulphur?

India, which supplied 12% in 2025; Oman at Duqm and Sohar, outside the strait; and the Saudi Red Sea ports, where each lifting is confirmed per cargo. All are shorter or comparable hauls to the Gulf ports that supplied 88%. Each offer names the producer and the load port.

What specification is required?

Formed granular sulphur at 99.8% minimum with low ash, low carbon and friability at or under 5%, because the cargo is grab-discharged, stockpiled in a cyclone-prone port and melted for a pressure-leach acid plant. Certification at load covers purity, ash, acidity, organic carbon, moisture and screen analysis.

Can CBIL also fix the ship?

Yes. Our chartering desk, LaycanDesk, prices Supramax tonnage from Oman, the Red Sea and India to Toamasina, so a CFR and an FOB figure can be shown side by side.

Indian Ocean · Madagascar

Sulphur Suppliers CFR Toamasina, Madagascar

One buyer, two acid lines and a 45,000 to 50,000 t cargo every few weeks

Madagascar declared 443,500 t of sulphur imports in 2025 at USD 128 million, about USD 289 per tonne, after 345,100 t in 2024. The UAE supplied 46% of the 2025 tonnage, Qatar 42% and India 12%; in 2024 the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait supplied all of it. The Strait of Hormuz has been severely restricted since 28 February 2026: loadings inside the Gulf move irregularly and are confirmed cargo by cargo. There is one buyer of consequence: the Ambatovy nickel and cobalt operation, whose refinery about 10 km south of Toamasina leaches laterite ore under pressure with sulphuric acid made on site. Its acid plant has two sulphur-burning lines of 2,750 t of acid a day each and can use about 500,000 t of sulphur a year at full rate, delivered in cargoes of 45,000 to 50,000 t. The operation was halted by a cyclone in February 2026; the first acid line restarted on 23 May and the second was due by the end of June, with a production target for June of 2,500 t of nickel. A change of majority ownership was agreed in June 2026. Demand in 2026 therefore depends on the ramp-up as well as on supply.

Sulphur for Toamasina ships in bulk and is discharged to the refinery's own storage and melter. India's appearance among the 2025 origins shows the short-haul alternative to the Gulf; Oman's Duqm and Sohar are the others, with the Saudi Red Sea ports subject to confirmation of loading. CBIL brokers formed granular sulphur (99.8% min, 2-6 mm, friability at or under 5%, ash 0.05% max) in 40,000 to 50,000 t lots CFR Toamasina, with SGS or Intertek certification at load and the producing refinery or gas plant named on the certificate of origin. A requirement that states the buyer, laycan, discharge rate and LC-opening bank gets a firm answer; one without them gets a question first.

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

The market in figures

Declared imports: 2025: 443,500 t, USD 128 million, USD 289/t · 2024: 345,100 t
Origins, 2025: UAE 46% · Qatar 42% · India 12%
Share from inside the Gulf: 88% (about 32,000 t a month to replace)
Buyer: Ambatovy nickel-cobalt refinery: two sulphur-burning acid lines of 2,750 t/d, about 500,000 t of sulphur a year at full rate
2026 status: Halted by a cyclone in February; first acid line restarted 23 May
Parcel: 45,000-50,000 t Supramax cargoes, bulk

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

Questions buyers ask

Who buys sulphur in Madagascar?: The Ambatovy nickel-cobalt operation, almost alone. Its refinery near Toamasina makes sulphuric acid from imported sulphur to leach laterite ore. The purchase is made by the operating company for a named cargo and laycan; there is no distributor market behind it.
How much does it need?: About 500,000 t a year when both acid lines run at full rate, which is a 45,000 to 50,000 t cargo roughly every five weeks. Imports were 443,500 t in 2025. The 2026 requirement is lower because the plant was shut from February and restarted its acid lines in stages from late May.
Which origins can replace Gulf sulphur?: India, which supplied 12% in 2025; Oman at Duqm and Sohar, outside the strait; and the Saudi Red Sea ports, where each lifting is confirmed per cargo. All are shorter or comparable hauls to the Gulf ports that supplied 88%. Each offer names the producer and the load port.
What specification is required?: Formed granular sulphur at 99.8% minimum with low ash, low carbon and friability at or under 5%, because the cargo is grab-discharged, stockpiled in a cyclone-prone port and melted for a pressure-leach acid plant. Certification at load covers purity, ash, acidity, organic carbon, moisture and screen analysis.
Can CBIL also fix the ship?: Yes. Our chartering desk, LaycanDesk, prices Supramax tonnage from Oman, the Red Sea and India to Toamasina, so a CFR and an FOB figure can be shown side by side.