Sulphur Advocacy

Mission:

To encourage global sulphur use for industry stakeholders. Through advocacy, education and promotion facilitate increased sulphur demand by removing hurdles for private industry to develop commercial scale sulphur-based fertilizer businesses.

Background:

The Institute has been engaged in evaluating and promoting sulphur consumption and new opportunities since it was founded in 1960. From supporting the development of wet-process phosphoric acid, now the largest consumer of sulphur, to promoting sulphur fertilizer development and development of sulphur construction materials, TSI has been at the forefront.

TSI staff works with industry contacts, industry organization liaisons and others to implement targeted programs to overcome obstacles for sulphur use in agriculture. For example, in June 2003 as part of a cooperation among TSI, the Fertiliser Association of India (IFA) and the International Fertilizer Industry Association, changes were made in the Government of India’s Fertiliser Control Order to permit the labeling and sale of sulphur-containing fertilizers on a limited scale. Each year, TSI evaluates what obstacles are impeding advances in agriculture with sulphur and develops strategies with its partners to address these issues. TSI’s agricultural program utilizes targeted educational activities to achieve its goal. Frequently, these include workshops and various publications.

Current Activities:

As new clean air requirements are implemented and more sulphur is recovered at oil refining and gas processing facilities, new market opportunities are needed for a growing sulphur surplus. The program is focused in China and India where the agricultural market needs additional sulphur to meet its fertilizer requirements. Through advocacy, education, and promotion, the program seeks to facilitate increased sulphur demand by removing hurdles for private industry to develop commercial scale sulphur-based fertilizer businesses. China currently has a potential for an additional 2.0 million tons of sulphur consumption annually, while India has a demand for 1.6 million tons of additional sulphur needed.

In addition to agriculture, new industrial applications are being evaluated where the greatest opportunity for advancement is sulphur construction materials.

To learn more about the importance of sulphur in Indian agriculture, visit TSI's Indian website by clicking here.

To learn more about TSI's program in China, please visit TSI's China website by clicking here.