Why is Beaumont, Texas the largest US formed sulphur export port?

Beaumont is home to Martin Midstream's Neches terminal, a sulphur forming and bulk ship-loading facility on the Neches River. It converts molten Claus sulphur from regional refineries into prills or granules and loads bulk carriers. US trade data show 112,500 tonnes of sulphur exported by vessel through Beaumont in July 2026, about half of the US total.

Is US Gulf granular sulphur safe for vanadium catalyst acid plants?

Claus sulphur is recovered from refinery and gas streams rather than mined ore. The typical specification is arsenic, selenium and tellurium each at ≤1 ppm, stated on the load-port inspection certificate, to avoid converter fouling and early catalyst degradation.

What vessel sizes are loaded at US Gulf sulphur berths?

Standard fixtures are geared Handysize (15,000–30,000 MT) and Supramax (40,000–50,000 MT) bulk carriers. Berth draft is confirmed with the terminal for each stem.

Can CBIL arrange delivered CFR terms into South America and Asia?

CFR and CIF terms can be quoted; the freight leg is worked through LaycanDesk, CBIL's chartering desk.

North America · United States

US Gulf Elemental Sulphur Export Gateway

Formed granular Claus sulphur from Texas and Gulf Coast refineries for phosphate and industrial acidulation

Elemental sulphur recovered from sour crude refining along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast is formed into prills or granules for maritime export. US trade data record 222,330 metric tonnes exported by ocean vessel in July 2026, 112,500 tonnes of it through Beaumont, Texas, where Martin Midstream operates a sulphur forming and ship-loading terminal on the Neches River. Morocco took 115,150 tonnes and Brazil 77,544 tonnes; a further 18,013 tonnes went to Indonesia from Anacortes, Washington.

CBIL brokers formed granular elemental sulphur from Texas and Gulf export gateways to a typical specification of purity ≥99.5% dry basis, ash ≤0.05%, moisture ≤0.5%, mechanical dust ≤0.5%, and arsenic and selenium below 1 ppm to protect vanadium pentoxide catalyst in contact sulphuric acid plants. CBIL is a commodity brokerage: each lot is brokered between a named seller and a named buyer against independent SGS or Intertek inspection before vessel release, on FOB terminal or CFR destination terms. Laycans are matched to the discharge berth limits of the receiving phosphoric acid plant or leach facility.

Need the full picture on this lane before you commit: imports by origin, landed cost, duties, standards, demand and logistics? Commission a market study.

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

The market in figures

Declared US vessel exports, July 2026: 222,330 t (163,616 t from US Gulf ports)
Largest load ports, July 2026: Beaumont, TX 112,500 t · Long Beach, CA 30,000 t · Tampa, FL 26,354 t
Leading destination markets: Morocco 115,150 t · Brazil 77,544 t · Indonesia 18,013 t (ex Anacortes, WA)
Typical specification: S ≥99.5% min · Ash ≤0.05% · Carbon ≤0.05% · Moisture ≤0.5%
Catalyst safety profile: Arsenic <1 ppm · Selenium <1 ppm · Tellurium <1 ppm

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

Questions buyers ask

Why is Beaumont, Texas the largest US formed sulphur export port?: Beaumont is home to Martin Midstream's Neches terminal, a sulphur forming and bulk ship-loading facility on the Neches River. It converts molten Claus sulphur from regional refineries into prills or granules and loads bulk carriers. US trade data show 112,500 tonnes of sulphur exported by vessel through Beaumont in July 2026, about half of the US total.
Is US Gulf granular sulphur safe for vanadium catalyst acid plants?: Claus sulphur is recovered from refinery and gas streams rather than mined ore. The typical specification is arsenic, selenium and tellurium each at ≤1 ppm, stated on the load-port inspection certificate, to avoid converter fouling and early catalyst degradation.
What vessel sizes are loaded at US Gulf sulphur berths?: Standard fixtures are geared Handysize (15,000–30,000 MT) and Supramax (40,000–50,000 MT) bulk carriers. Berth draft is confirmed with the terminal for each stem.
Can CBIL arrange delivered CFR terms into South America and Asia?: CFR and CIF terms can be quoted; the freight leg is worked through LaycanDesk, CBIL's chartering desk.