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China: 39.7%Source [1] of its sulphur imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz (2025), the largest share of one country on file.
This page answers: Who supplies whom with this good, which straits does it pass, and who runs short first?
Supply balance first, suppliers second.
Each card shows the latest complete period: the newest with consumption and at least one of production, imports and exports on file. The table also keeps the newest period where it is partial.
Shown in million tonnes.
Where USGS reports shipments, production is shipments, as published.
Shown first: the two largest net importers and the two largest net exporters on file, latest complete period.
In 2025, the United States produced 8.1 Mt and used 9.1 Mt. Its imports and exports are not on file.
estimate Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
The map needs JavaScript. Every country is in the table below.
Colour: net import dependence, latest complete period on file. Tap a country for its balance.
Sulphur, all forms · million tonnes
| Country | Period | Production | Imports | Exports | Consumption | Net import dependence | Grade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2025 | 0.9 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Brazil | 2020 | 0.5 Mt | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | High confidence | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Canada | 2025 | 5 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Chile | 2025 | 1.4 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| China | 2025 | 19 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Finland | 2022 | 0.64 Mt | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | High confidence | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Germany | 2022 | 0.61 Mt | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | High confidence | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Greece | 2020 | 0.5 Mt | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | High confidence | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| India | 2025 | 3.7 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Iran | 2025 | 2.1 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Japan | 2025 | 2.7 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Kazakhstan | 2025 | 4.8 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Country | Period | Production | Imports | Exports | Consumption | Net import dependence | Grade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuwait | 2025 | 1.3 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Poland | 2025 | 1.1 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Qatar | 2025 | 3.1 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Russia | 2025 | 7.5 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Saudi Arabia | 2025 | 7.2 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| South Africa | 2020 | 0.9 Mt | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | High confidence | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| South Korea | 2025 | 3.1 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| Turkmenistan | 2025 | 0.87 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| United Arab Emirates | 2025 | 6.3 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | not on file | not on file | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
| United States | 2025 | 8.1 Mt estimate | not on file | not on file | 9.1 Mt estimate | 11% estimate | Medium confidence estimate | U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center |
Marks: Low confidence (a less certain source, shown with its source) and estimate (the source's own estimate). Not on file: no figure published.
The CSV holds every figure in the table, every period on file.
Each share is the supplier’s share of that buyer’s imports of this good, as published (one unit, per cent); shares are never added. The EU (27) is a bloc, on the switch, never added to its members. Records whose every figure is zero stay in the ledger only.
Suppliers by the number of buyers on file (countries; the EU (27) not counted). A count of records, not a measure of volume.
14 of the 16 flows on file pass it on their modelled route
14 of the 16 flows on file pass it on their modelled route
10 of the 16 flows on file pass it on their modelled route
4 of the 16 flows on file pass it on their modelled route
Cited shares of a country’s imports that pass it:
Counts are counts of flow records (records whose every figure is zero left out). Routes are modelled main routes, not ship tracks; a share is shown only where a source gives it.
Case: Strait of Hormuz closed, restricted or unsafe. For each country, the day on file when its supply shortfall begins for this good, or, where nothing runs short, when its late-arrival gap begins.
3 of the 3 countries on file for this good reach a supply shortfall in this case; the first to run short are listed first.
first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)
first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)
Sellerfirst day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)
Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a totalfirst day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)
Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a totalDays as on file in the precomputed case “Strait of Hormuz closed for 30 days” (Strature network pack, the network map’s default settings). Day 0 is the first day of the closure; the shaded part of each line is the closure (30 days); each line runs to day 120.
Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.
Nearest related forecast; not about this good alone.
In the register’s exact words, each with our estimate, scored when it resolves.
F-0074 · A renewed US or Israeli strike on Iran, 22 Aug-20 Nov 2026 · 61%, our estimate, scored when it resolves · resolves by 20 Nov 2026 · Open · brief S-001
Note, : US Central Command reported strikes on Iranian territory on 30 Aug and 1 Sep 2026; this question resolves on 20 Nov under its rules.
| Supplier → buyer | Year | Basis | Share of the buyer’s imports | Volume | Straits on the modelled route | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 0.452%Source [2] | 734.3 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| Japan → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 0.000%Source [2] | 1.592 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| Saudi Arabia → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 3.355%Source [2] | 35,000 t/yrSource [2] | Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| South Korea → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 0.044%Source [2] | 235.3 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| Taiwan → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 2.861%Source [2] | 5,622 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| United Arab Emirates → EU (27) | 2025 | observed | 0.038%Source [2] | 244.5 t/yrSource [2] | Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| Saudi Arabia → France | 2025 | observed | 10.22%Source [2] | 10,930 t/yrSource [2] | Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| Taiwan → France | 2025 | observed | 3.23%Source [2] | 630 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| China → Germany | 2025 | observed | 0.528%Source [2] | 16.09 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| India → Germany | 2025 | observed | 0.812%Source [2] | 35.05 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| South Korea → Germany | 2025 | observed | 0.607%Source [2] | 19.34 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| Taiwan → Germany | 2025 | observed | 10.05%Source [2] | 282.1 t/yrSource [2] | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| United Arab Emirates → Germany | 2025 | observed | 1.521%Source [2] | 216 t/yrSource [2] | Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal | high |
| Canada → India | 2025 | mirror | – | 14,400 t/yrSource [5] | Strait of Malacca | high |
| Denmark → Japan | 2025 | observed | 3.27%Source [3] | – | Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca | high |
| Canada → Maldives | 2025 | mirror | – | 8 t/yrSource [5] | Strait of Malacca | high |
Basis: observed (reported by the buyer), mirror (reported by the supplier) or cited (a published figure). Volumes are shown in the one unit the pack uses for this good and are never added. Rows to the EU (27) show on the switch.
No supplier concentration index on file for this good. The flow ledger lists the suppliers on file.
In short In a 30-day closure some oil never arrives at all: of the economies shown, China loses the most, 310-317 million barrels. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.
In short Going round the Cape for 90 days loses nothing on lanes with a cited Cape route: 55 million barrels of the economies shown arrive late, most of it the EU's. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.
In short Closing the Strait of Malacca causes delay, not loss: ships go by Lombok and Makassar, about 3 days longer. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.
Every figure on this page carries its source, its year and a link; figures from 2023 or older carry an amber mark. The flows are the Strature network pack (approved, independently re-checked); a good has its own page when the pack carries ten or more flows for it. Shares are as published and never added; volumes stay in the one unit the pack uses for the good and are never added across goods. Routes are modelled main routes. The days in “Who runs short first” are read from the precomputed cases the network map and the scenario pages use; late cargo is never added to lost cargo, and the EU (27) is never added to its members. The forecast box shows our register’s words and estimates unchanged, each scored when it resolves.
Cite this page Strature, “Sulphur”, Strature GPS, https://strature.net/gps/goods/sulphur/, 31 Oct 2026.