Canadian Sulphur Inventory

Canada is home to the largest sulphur inventory globally. As of the end of November 2025, inventory at the Syncrude oil sands operation in the Fort McMurray oil sands region stood at just over 9.9m t. 

Amid a global sulphur supply disruption due to the Middle East conflict, many people have asked us why can't this quickly be moved to market to provide incremental tonnage? 

The answer lies in logistics and infrastructure. Under existing conditions, sulphur cannot move as crushed bulk/lump from the Port of Vancouver, unlike Kazakstan and Saudi Arabia. In order to provide incremental tonnage to the offshore market from inventory, every tonne must be excavated off the block, trucked to a melting side, melted, formed, and railed to Vancouver for vessel loading. This results in a lengthy and expensive process. There are currently five melting sites operating in Alberta. 

Despite this, sulphur from inventory is making its way to market, albeit slowly. Inventory being held at Syncrude was drawn down by almost 400,000t between the end of 2024 and November 2025. In fact, inventory at Syncrude declined month-over-month between November 2024 and November 2025, resulting in it dipping to under 10m t for the first time since 2019. 

As we look forward, Canadian oil sands sulphur inventory will continue to play a role in supplying the market, including movement to the US as molten. This is as US sulphur production declines and new demand emerges, expected in 2028.