USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2023 lists Canada sulfur production about 4.88 to 4.90 million tonnes in 2021-22 and world output about 81.4 to 82 million tonnes. UAE production was estimated near 6.0 million tonnes in 2022 as Middle East solid exports remained central to seaborne trade. The PDF is at https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2023/mcs2023-sulfur.pdf.
US all-forms production rose to about 8.6 million tonnes, elemental recovered about 8.0 million, average elemental unit value about $150 per tonne from $92.30 in 2021. Shipments were valued near $1.3 billion. 2022 is the spike year on the USGS tape. 2023's $100 unit-value and 2024's $46.42 are the hangover.
Alberta recovered sulfur still leaves mainly through the Vancouver stem. VFPA put Port of Vancouver sulphur at 2,787,073 tonnes in 2022, up 22 percent from 2.29 million in 2021. That Pacific solid slice is the harbour half of Canada's 4.9 million tonne recovered book. Molten rail south is the other door. USGS later noted 2022 world sulfur supplies were hampered by the Ukraine conflict even as global output was roughly unchanged versus 2021.
Tampa opened near $282 per long ton, peaked at $481 in early April, eased to $352 by mid-July, then collapsed to $90 in the fourth quarter, USGS. A 4.9 million tonne Canada year and an 82 million tonne world year produced a $481 peak and a $90 close. Volume did not explain the spike. Chinese phosphate-export policy and war-risk premia did. The crash was demand destruction after July's de-facto quota.
Argus put Vancouver spot midpoint near $478 per tonne FOB at the peak, highest since 2008, then under $65 within about two months. January-October Vancouver exports of 2.39 million tonnes already exceeded full-year 2021. The harbour answered the price signal. Fourth-quarter $90 Tampa meant remelt economics flipped from strongly profitable to marginal.
China imported 6.65 million tonnes of sulfur in January-October, down 22 percent year on year, after a second-quarter surge of 2.4 million tonnes, up 50 percent, then a second-half slowdown. Import value peaked near $2.3 billion for the year, IndexBox, before 2023's $1.1 billion at higher volume. 2022 is the value year. 2023 is the volume-recovery year.
UAE at 6.0 million tonnes production is the Gulf solid competitor Vancouver met at $478 and then at $65. Qatar's August QSP at $77 per tonne FOB, from $428 in July, is the Gulf price crash in a producer marker. Two origins, one Chinese policy shock.
Figures follow USGS MCS 2023. Licensed weekly grids are not restated. The 4.9 million tonne Canada print is the 2022 production base under a 2.79 million tonne harbour year.