For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
In the first quarter of 2022, the Bentonite Sulphur market in the North American region. Overall market dynamics remained strengthened on the back of the strong Crude offers throughout the quarter and the export quota on the supplies of fertilizers imposed by Russia. Even after the resurgence of the omicron variant, the OPEC+ alliance remains stuck to the decision to gradually increase the Crude Oil output that kept the market sentiments buoyed in the US domestic market. Whereas, the situation worsened after as the Chinese authorities restricts the exports of fertilizers and intermediates till the second quarter of 2022, against the constantly soaring food pricing index. As a ripple effect, the bullish sentiments in the quotations of Bentonite Sulphur prevailed throughout the quarter with the cost support of Sulphur.
Asia Pacific
During the fourth quarter of 2022, the sentiments for Bentonite Sulphur in the Asia Pacific region observed a significant gyration in the market dynamics after Russia started its special military operations in Ukraine the Crude Oil market shot upwards. In response, the western nations were more reluctant to procure the Russian supplies, and the inquiries traffic shifted towards the middle-eastern market. As a ripple effect, the higher values of Crude offers levied its impact on the feedstocks of the Bentonite Sulphur market. Whereas the Indian refiners safeguarded their interest after procuring the Russian Urals (high Bentonite Sulphur content) despite strict sanctions on Russia, and the producer's quotations consistently remained buoyed amidst the hovering concerns over the Indian fertilizers market.
Europe
In the first quarter of 2022, the European region is the most affected market due to the geopolitical turmoil in eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine. As the sanctions imposed on Russia isolated the mineral resource country on a global financial stage and impacted its arbitrage with the European Union. Whereas, the European countries were reluctant to procure Russian energy materials in protest of the invasion of Ukraine and domestic players were keener toward the middle east market. Whereas the prevailing energy crisis hugely impacted the market dynamics coupled with the export quotas on fertilizers by the Russian authority worsened the situation in the European market, and the Suez Canal authority increases the charges by 5% had further inflated the prices of Bentonite Sulphur in the European market.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
The North American Bentonite Sulphur market witnessed a persistent staggering upward trend during the fourth quarter of 2021, the offers for Bentonite Sulphur remained consolidated after witnessing constant up stride in the third quarter by taking cues from the feedstock. The market sentiments weaken after Biden’s Administration announced to release the strategic Petroleum reserves as part of ongoing efforts to lower the prices of Crude Oil in the fourth quarter and the demand witnessed a significant uptrend from the fertilizers sector. As a ripple effect, the producer's quotations for Bentonite Sulphur have witnessed mixed trends in Q4 2021.
Asia Pacific
The OPEC+ Alliance, 26th ministerial-level talks in Q3 2021 concluded into gradually increasing the production output of Crude Oil. In response, the cost support from upstream Sulphur was adequate to uplift the offers for Bentonite Sulphur in the APAC domestic market. Whereas the high charges and limited availability provided additional cost support to the Bentonite Sulphur in Asia. However, the offers witnessed a slight plunge in the second half of the quarter amidst the resurgence of COVID 19, whereas the demand soared drastically from the Fertilizers sector after China restrict the exports of DAP till Q2 2022 and the demand for Sulphur based fertilizers witnessed unprecedented demand as a replacement of DAP in the Asia Market.
Europe
In the fourth quarter, the European Bentonite Sulphur market witnessed persistent growth, this is majorly attributed to the supply-demand imbalance which further coupled with the hiked freight charges. Whereas the ongoing energy crisis took a significant toll on the operational rates of the production facilities and the DAP shortages uplifted the demand drastically for Bentonite Sulphur in Europe after the global food pricing index soared drastically. As a ripple effect, the offers witnessed substantial gains throughout the fourth quarter of 2021.
For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
During Q3 of 2021, US Bentonite Sulphur market experienced an upward trajectory, coincided with the peak cropping season in the region. Increasing use of Bentonite Sulphur as a micronutrient to address Sulphur deficiency in plants such as oil seeds had boosted demand for Bentonite Sulphur and hence, influenced its price trend. In addition, price of Bentonite Sulphur also hiked due to the constrained supply during the hurricane season as Sulphur production in the Gulf coast had been hit severely. Hence, high demand and limited supplies of the material kept the market sentiments high throughout the quarter in the region.
Asia
In Asia, Bentonite Sulphur market witnessed an upward trend during the third quarter of 2021 supported by the sturdy demand from the downstream agriculture sector. In India, Bentonite Sulphur market showcased mixed sentiments due to the fluctuations in the prices of feedstock Sulphur. Moreover, high freight charges and limited availability of shipping containers led to the increment in the prices of Bentonite Sulphur in the region during this quarter.
Europe
During the third quarter of 2021, Bentonite Sulphur market appeared to be bullish due to the robust demand from the downstream agricultural sector with the tight supplies that kept the price trend high in Europes. In addition, exorbitant freight charges due to the shortages of shipping containers as well as lower production rates followed by the natural gas crisis across the European region further contributed to the increase in the values of Bentonite Sulphur.
For the Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
Bentonite Sulphur demand remained high during the second half of the quarter across North America region. Initially during April, the supply activities for feedstock were halted due to disrupted production across US gulf coast since mid-February. Later in April, supplies improved for crude based sulphur in the country, as major crackers started operating at their usual capacity again. However, the demand for Bentonite sulphur remained modest during the month of April, which later improved in May-June timeframe. In addition, rising demand for crops like corn also exacerbated the demand for several agrochemical products including Bentonite Sulphur across North America.
Asia
The demand for Bentonite Sulphur remained firm throughout the quarter across APAC region. In China, unprecedented surge in offtakes of feedstock sulphur from other derivative segment, led to a rise in its prices. Meanwhile, the demand from agriculture sector in China was deemed firm, which also affect the prices of Sulphur in the country. On the other side, demand for Bentonite Sulphur remained high from the Indian agriculture sector, as the kharif season maintained the overall firmness in demand for fertilizers in the country.
Europe
Limited availability of feedstock Sulphur led to an effective rise in its prices across European region. The demand for Bentonite Sulphur remained modest during this period across Europe. The demand for Sulphur from different downstream sectors like sulphuric acid, remained high in the meantime, however the supply was inadequate to satisfy the overall demand. In addition, rising freight cost also exacerbating the overall price scenario of Sulphur and its derivatives product, including Bentonite Sulphur across the region.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
North America
Bentonite Sulphur prices were directly influenced by the Sulphur prices, and the prices of Sulphur across North America were soaring due to lower output from the facilities based in the gulf coast. Devastating winter in the gulf of USA disrupted the operations at several refineries, which drastically reduced the availability of crude based sulphur across the region. Although the regional demand for Bentonite Sulphur was low during this timeframe, lack of availability marginally raised the prices in March.
Asia
Impact of winter storm sent ripples to the Asian Bentonite Sulphur market, where the imports lowered down to critically lows, compelling the prices to rise affectively across the region. Overall demand for Bentonite Sulphur remained low regionally as the regional fertiliser sector was not booming this quarter, although optimism was high during March after arrival of Zaid crop season. The sufficient availability of material, however, resisted the rise in prices, thus imparting overall stability to the price curve.
Europe
Curtailed production activities also heard from major European refineries based in France and UK capped the Bentonite Sulphur supply. Reduced the availability of Sulphur across the region somewhat raised regional offers early in the quarter. But lukewarm demand from the domestic downstream segments like agrochemicals manufacturers maintained the stability in the regional prices. Port inventories were recorded high despite some increases in the offtakes by the fertilizer producers, somewhat limiting upward price momentum.
For the Quarter Ending December 2020
Asia
Feedstock Sulphur prices eased in Q4 of 2020 in India and China due to increase in domestic supply as the production considerably revived from the aftereffects of the lockdown. Downward pressure in the prices of feedstock Sulphur in the final quarter considerably pushed down the prices of Sulphur Bentonite in the regional market. Supply returned to levels before the COVID -19 pandemic as the fertilizer industry in general was among least affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This led to price stability throughout the region in Q4. Demand from fertilizer is expected to remain firm with increasing requirement for pH maintenance in Indian soil which suffers from alkalinity.
North America
Feedstock Sulphur supply in the regional market remained extremely constrained as refinery production remained at record low levels which led to a decrease in the exports of Sulphur from the region. High agriculture spending in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico played a critical role in shaping the regional market demand after the prolonged aftereffects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Backed by increased agricultural spending under various government initiatives, Bentonite Sulphur prices considerably revived in Q4 with respect to Q3 in the North America region.
Europe
Feedstock Sulphur supply remained tight in amidst a reduction in output by refineries in the wake of new coronavirus pandemic during Q4. This led to supply pressure in Sulphur Bentonite market. In addition, trade disruption caused due to a partial lockdown in several economies also effected the market fundamentals of Bentonite Sulphur in the region. However, demand from the agriculture industry remained stable due to consistent requirement for the product for easing alkaline nature of soil.
