russia Forced to Import Sulfur from Abroad

In October 2025, for the first time in a long time, russia was forced to purchase 35,000 tons of sulfur abroad – at $390 per ton.

The import of this raw material is a clear sign of deep problems in the country’s energy sector. Sulfur, which is used to manufacture explosives and was previously produced mainly at domestic oil refineries, has become scarce due to the shutdown of a significant part of production capacities.

In recent years, sulfur exports from russia have plummeted from 3.9 million tons in 2019 to 1.04 million tons in 2024. And this year, the situation is even worse: in eight months, technical sulfur production decreased  by 11.2 % to 3.17 million tons.

As of September 15, more than 25 % of the total capacities of russian oil refineries were idle: that is 1.86 million barrels per day out of 6.8 million. The Astrakhan gas processing plant – a key producer of sulfur for explosives – has also been shut down.

The country, which until recently exported sulfur, is now forced to import it, losing control over industries that are critical to its economy.