Sulfur
World production, 2024–2025
Share of world production, all forms, 2025 · world total 84 million metric tons
- China 23%
- United States 9.6%
- Russia 8.9%
- Saudi Arabia 8.6%
- United Arab Emirates 7.5%
- Canada 6%
- Kazakhstan 5.7%
- India 4.4%
- All other countries 27%
China accounted for 23% of world production of sulfur in 2025 (19 million metric tons of 84 million metric tons). U.S. imports of sulfur (recovered elemental) fell from 3,470 thousand metric tons in 2021 to 2,000 thousand metric tons in 2025 (sulfur content). Canada supplied 53% of U.S. imports of elemental in 2021–24, more than any other country. Net imports covered 14% of U.S. sulfur consumption in 2025.
Producer log
17 countries listed separately
| Country | Production, all forms 2024 | Production, all forms 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 19,000 | 19,000 | 23% | 0% |
| United States | 8,320 | 8,100 | 9.6% | −2.6% |
| Russia | 7,400 | 7,500 | 8.9% | +1.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | 7,200 | 7,200 | 8.6% | 0% |
| United Arab Emirates | 6,300 | 6,300 | 7.5% | 0% |
| Canada | 5,060 | 5,000 | 6% | −1.2% |
| Kazakhstan | 4,740 | 4,800 | 5.7% | +1.3% |
| India | 3,700 | 3,700 | 4.4% | 0% |
| South Korea | 3,100 | 3,100 | 3.7% | 0% |
| Qatar | 3,000 | 3,100 | 3.7% | +3.3% |
| Japan | 2,750 | 2,700 | 3.2% | −1.8% |
| Iran | 2,000 | 2,100 | 2.5% | +5% |
| Chile | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1.7% | −6.7% |
| Kuwait | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1.5% | 0% |
| Poland | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1.3% | +10% |
| Australia | 900 | 900 | 1.1% | 0% |
| Turkmenistan | 880 | 870 | 1% | −1.1% |
| Other countries | 5,100 | 5,700 | 6.8% | |
| World total | 83,900 | 84,000 | 100% | +0.1% |
United States
supply, trade and import sources
14%
Net import reliance in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption.
202124
202220
202315
202414
202514
Import sources of elemental, 2021–24
- Canada 53%
- Mexico 7%
- Iraq 6%
- Kazakhstan 6%
- Other countries 28%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production: Recovered elemental | 7,470 | 8,010 | 8,010 | 7,790 | 7,600 |
| Production: Other forms | 600 | 636 | 640 | 527 | 500 |
| Production: Total (rounded) | 8,070 | 8,640 | 8,650 | 8,320 | 8,100 |
| Shipments, all forms | 8,080 | 8,640 | 8,660 | 8,080 | 7,900 |
| Imports for consumption: Recovered elemental | 3,470 | 2,910 | 2,390 | 2,260 | 2,000 |
| Imports for consumption: Sulfuric acid | 1,070 | 1,060 | 1,080 | 1,150 | 1,100 |
| Exports: Recovered elemental | 1,900 | 1,740 | 1,920 | 2,080 | 1,800 |
| Exports: Sulfuric acid | 129 | 97 | 64 | 55 | 65 |
| Consumption, apparent, all forms | 10,600 | 10,800 | 10,200 | 9,360 | 9,100 |
| Stocks, producer, yearend | 113 | 125 | 122 | 114 | 116 |
| Employment, mine and (or) plant, number | 2,400 | 2,400 | 2,400 | 2,400 | 2,400 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Sulfur chapter (PDF page 190). How to read these figures.