Tampa molten
Quarterly molten (liquid) sulfur contract hub for delivered product into the Tampa, Florida phosphate fertilizer complex. Distinct from Pacific/Atlantic dry bulk FOB: Tampa is predominantly molten delivered, priced in USD per long ton, and used by fertilizer procurement desks rather than seaborne granular traders.
Linked indices: SR-TAMPA-Q, SR-TAMPA-MOLTEN
Products: molten
Inland logistics: Heated tank cars and barge/coastal logistics move molten sulfur from Gulf Coast and inland US recovery sites into Florida phosphate plants. Canadian molten rail can also reach US consumers, separate from Vancouver seaborne granular.
Terminals
- Tampa Bay phosphate / industrial receivers (Tampa, FL and Florida phosphate belt): Contract settlements reported by PRAs for liquid sulfur delivered Tampa.
2021–2026 by year
- 2021: USGS MCS 2022: Tampa contracts began ~$69/lt, rose to $195/lt by mid-July, then $183/lt by end-September; Q4 held at $183/lt. High prices reflected supply issues.
- 2022: USGS MCS 2023: began ~$282/lt, peaked $481/lt in early April, $352/lt mid-July, Q4 $90/lt. Classic spike-and-crash with phosphate demand and global sulfur tightness then surplus.
- 2023: USGS MCS 2024: began ~$90/lt, $130/lt mid-January, trough $55/lt mid-July, Q4 $102/lt. Soft phosphate demand and rising Gulf supply pressured molten contracts; Argus noted consecutive Q3 settlement declines into the surplus period.
- 2024: USGS MCS 2025: began $69/lt, $81/lt early March, $76/lt early July, Q4 $116/lt. Quiet year versus 2022 peak; set up for 2025-26 reacceleration.
- 2025: USGS MCS 2026: began $116/lt, $270/lt early April, $252/lt early July, $310/lt early October. Q4 2025 prices highest since Q2 2022 in USGS narrative.
- 2026: Argus: Q3 2026 Tampa liquid sulfur contracts settled at a record $705/lt delivered, up from $655/lt in Q2, amid global sulfur tightness. High Tampa contracts coexisted with even higher spot dry bulk export indications from the US Gulf (molten domestic vs granular export bifurcation).
Recent notes
- USGS MCS 2026 notes Tampa FL contract sulfur began 2025 at $116 per long ton and rose sharply through the year (to $270/lt in the published narrative snapshot). source
- Argus reported Q3 2026 Tampa liquid sulfur contracts settled at a record $705/lt delivered, up from $655/lt in Q2, amid global sulfur tightness. source
- High Tampa contracts coexisted with even higher spot dry bulk export indications from the US Gulf, highlighting molten domestic vs granular export bifurcation. source