Insoluble Sulfur Market Size To Reach $1,676.5 Million by 2030

Insoluble Sulfur Market Growth & Trends

The global insoluble sulfur market size is anticipated to reach USD 1, 676.5 million by 2030 and expanding at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market growth is majorly attributed to increasing consumption of product in automotive and footwear industry.The product is mainly used as a vulcanization accelerator in the rubber industry as it provides adhesive property to rubber, preventing it from breaking apart. The increased demand for tires is expected to further fuel the demand for the product.

Consumers increasingly prioritize durability and quality when purchasing footwear. They expect their footwear to last longer and withstand various environmental conditions. The product enhances the durability and performance of rubber soles, making them more resistant to abrasion, heat, and wear. As a result, footwear manufacturers utilize the product to meet consumer expectations for long-lasting and high-quality products.

Sulfur and carbon disulfide are the key raw materials used in the production of such products. Any kind of volatility in the prices, production, and supply of the above-mentioned products can directly affect the prices of the product application in footwear, Tire manufacturing, and other industrial usage. Sulfur is obtained from ores by conventional mining or as a by-product of natural gas processing, sour crude refining, tar sand processing, and stack gas clean-up.

The cost of raw materials used to produce the product, including sulfur and carbon disulfide, can significantly impact product prices. Fluctuations in raw material prices owing to their supply-demand dynamics, availability, or production cost variations can affect the overall prices of the product.

The basic and traditional method of manufacturing the product involves heating sulfur to vaporize it, followed by quenching it in carbon disulfide. In the process of quenching, the insoluble form solidifies and becomes suspended. The insoluble product form particles are then removed from carbon disulfide (CS2) by filtration and centrifugation.

While sulfur is abundantly available in nature, the sources of extraction are limited to specific regions. This geographical concentration of sulfur production can lead to supply chain disruptions due to factors like political instability, regulatory changes, or natural disasters in those regions. Given the finite nature of sulfur reserves and the increasing global demand for various sulfur-based products beyond the rubber industry (e.g., fertilizers and chemicals), there are concerns about long-term supply security.

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Insoluble Sulfur Market Report Highlights

• Based on grade, regular grade of the product dominated the market with a revenue share of 59.8% in 2023 owing to their wide usage in rubber industry. It is used as a vulcanizing agent, which helps to cross-link rubber polymers to enhance their strength, durability, and heat resistance.

• In terms of application, tire manufacturing application segment dominated the market with a revenue share of 89.5% in 2023 owing to increasing demand for tires form the automobile industry. Product is added to rubber compounds during the mixing stage and aids in vulcanization.

• Unlike soluble sulfur, insoluble sulfur does not dissolve in rubber and remains in its solid form. This property makes it an ideal additive for tire manufacturing as it ensures the even distribution of sulfur and prevents the formation of sulfur blooms on the surface of the tire.

• In 2023, Asia Pacific dominated the market segment with a revenue share of 55.3% owing to the region being a significant hub for tire manufacturing, with countries such as Japan, China, and India leading the tire industry.

• China is expected to be one of the promising markets in the region as the tire and rubber industry in China extensively relies on insoluble sulfur for its vulcanization properties.

Insoluble Sulfur Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the insoluble sulfur market on the basis of grade, application, and region:

Insoluble Sulfur Grade Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• High Dispersion

• High Stability

• Regular

Insoluble Sulfur Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Tire Manufacturing

• Industrials

• Footwear

• Others

Insoluble Sulfur Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• North America

  • U.S.

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Europe

  • Germany

  • UK

  • France

  • Netherlands

  • Spain

• Asia Pacific

  • Japan

  • China

  • India

  • Thailand

• Central & South America

  • Brazil

  • Argentina

• Middle East & Africa

  • South Africa

List of Key players in the Insoluble Sulfur Market

• Lions Industries s.r.o

• Nynas AB

• Oriental Carbon & Chemical Ltd.

• LAXNESS

• SHIKOKU KASEI HOLDINGS CORPORATION

• China Sunsine Chemical Holdings

• Grupa Azoty

• Henan Kailun Chemical

• Schill+Seilacher Struktol GmbH