LaycanDeskSulphur freight to South Africa - Duqm, Yanbu, Vancouver and the US Gulf to Richards Bay
Granular sulphur for the Richards Bay phosphoric acid complex and the inland acid burners, on Handysize to Supramax tonnage into the deep-water dry bulk berths. South Africa imported 383,000 tonnes of sulphur in 2025, half of it from Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE (UN Comtrade), and imports fell 68 percent in January to May 2026 after transit through the Strait of Hormuz collapsed. The desk works the lane on the open load ports and the Richards Bay dry bulk berths, where the draught is never the limit and the parcel size is set by the receiver's tender.
Richards Bay is where South Africa's sulphur lands: for the phosphoric acid complex beside the port, for inland acid burners and for onward bagging to the Copperbelt. The country imported 553,000 tonnes in 2024 and 383,000 tonnes in 2025, when Saudi Arabia supplied 149,200 tonnes, Qatar 69,400, Kuwait 62,600, the UAE 58,800 and Oman 40,000 (UN Comtrade). Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE load inside the Strait of Hormuz, severely restricted since 28 February 2026, and the effect was immediate: January to May 2026 imports were about 56,300 tonnes against 174,183 tonnes a year earlier, a single Middle East cargo of about 55,000 tonnes arrived in February, the Richards Bay acid producer stopped in March for want of sulphur and there was no warehouse stock at the port in April. The open origins are Oman, which already ships here from Duqm, and Vancouver and the US Gulf; the Saudi Red Sea ports of Yanbu, Rabigh and Jizan are worked subject to confirmation of loading.
The port does not constrain the ship. The Richards Bay dry bulk terminal's berths allow 14 metres of draught at berths 609 and 701 and 17.5 metres at berths 702 to 804, on quays of 240 to 300 metres, and the entrance channel allows 17.5 metres, so a laden Supramax or a Panamax berths in full; a conveyor system of 40 kilometres links the terminal to the industries around the harbour. Parcels follow the buyer's tender: 35,000 tonnes of granular sulphur was tendered for October to November 2025 delivery, with a 15,000 tonne part cargo alongside it, and the February 2026 cargo was about 55,000 tonnes. Formed sulphur is an IMSBC Group C cargo that is corrosive when wet, so holds are cleaned and lime-washed and the cargo kept dry. Charterers send the producer and load terminal, quantity and tolerance, the discharge berth, rates and laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name.
Load ports
- Duqm (Oman supplied 40,000 t in 2025 and 169,500 t in 2024, UN Comtrade)
- Yanbu, Rabigh and Jizan on the Saudi Red Sea (lifting confirmed per cargo)
- Vancouver and the US Gulf, formed sulphur
- All outside the Strait of Hormuz
Discharge port
- Richards Bay dry bulk terminal, berths 609 and 701: 14.0 m permissible draught, 300 m and 240 m
- Berths 702–804: 17.5 m permissible draught, 240–300 m
- Entrance channel 17.5 m
- 40 km conveyor system to the harbour industries
Typical parcels
- Handysize and Handymax 15,000–35,000 t
- Supramax 45,000–55,000 t
- South Africa 2025: 383,000 t imported; 2024: 553,000 t (UN Comtrade)
- IMSBC Group C for formed sulphur; holds cleaned and lime-washed
Ships that carry it
The cargo itself, on Commbril
The cargo from the freight side
Questions charterers and owners ask
What draught does Richards Bay allow for a sulphur ship?
The dry bulk terminal allows 14 metres at berths 609 and 701 and 17.5 metres at berths 702 to 804, and the entrance channel allows 17.5 metres. A laden Supramax draws about 12.5 to 13 metres, so every sulphur parcel on this lane berths in full. The terminal nominates the berth; send it with the stem.
What parcel sizes do South African buyers take?
The buyer's tender sets it: 35,000 tonnes of granular sulphur was tendered for October to November 2025 delivery with a 15,000 tonne part cargo, and the cargo that arrived in February 2026 was about 55,000 tonnes. That is Handysize to Supramax tonnage.
Where does the sulphur load now?
Oman already ships to South Africa and supplied 40,000 tonnes in 2025 and 169,500 tonnes in 2024 (UN Comtrade). Vancouver and the US Gulf are the other open origins, and the Saudi Red Sea ports are worked subject to confirmation of loading. Name the producer and the load terminal and the stem goes to owners.
What must I send to get a named ship?
Producer and load terminal, the form of the sulphur, quantity and tolerance, the discharge berth, load and discharge rates with laytime terms, laycan, commission and the charterer's name. Handysize and Supramax owners opening in the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean or the South Atlantic send name, IMO number, dwt, draft, open port and dates to desk-a005f1@in.laycandesk.com.