China's September sulfur import print landed on the domestic desk Tuesday 20 October through a Shengyishe rawmex customs note timestamped 13:35.
The wire cited official customs data showing 140,700 metric tonnes imported in September 2026, down 48.33 percent from August and 82.26 percent from September 2025 in the same table.
January through September cumulative imports totaled 3.0593 million tonnes, down 61.81 percent versus the year-earlier period according to the republished statistics.
The sharp September figure arrives as monitored coastal port stocks held near 1.1198 million tonnes on Shengyishe's 19 October inventory wire, a heavy but slightly easing band.
Domestic 基准价 screens on 20 October held at 6,076.75 yuan per tonne for a second session at the three-month low, so traders are weighing weak import flows against ample port cover.
Large year-on-year import declines can reflect both softer seaborne demand and reporting timing around contract and parcel arrivals, so desks usually pair the customs row with port stocks and plant run rates.
Open Pacific export markers from mid-October still frame replacement cost for Chinese buyers. ChemPortal's 15 October table listed Vancouver FOB granular at 830 to 840 dollars per tonne.
Middle East October producer contracts on Shanghai Metals Market's public notice remain at 820 to 890 dollars per tonne FOB, with QatarEnergy at 835 dollars in the open flash.
Alberta block inventory measured through AER ST3 at 11.04 million tonnes in August gives Canadian exporters stock to work with when Chinese import enquiry is uneven.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's verified_public series shows 3.51 million tonnes of sulfur exports in 2025, up 5 percent year on year, evidence the stem cleared strongly when buyers were active.
SunSirs sulfuric acid at 1,557.50 yuan per tonne through 19 October had paused for five sessions, suggesting downstream chains were digesting sulfur's break before reacting in acid.
Desk read: pair the 140.7 kt September import with 1.12 Mt coastal stocks and 6,076.75 yuan domestic spot when judging stem urgency; cite licensed CFR assessments through your data vendor for contract work.