Recovered Sulfur Produced And Shipped In The United States, By Petroleum Administration For Defense (Pad) District

This table presents detailed data on the production and shipments of recovered sulfur in the United States, categorized by Petroleum Administration for Defense (PAD) districts and source types, including petroleum and coke as well as natural gas. This information is critical for understanding regional contributions to sulfur supply, which is a key industrial commodity used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, fertilizers, chemicals, and in petroleum refining. Tracking production and shipment volumes helps stakeholders assess market dynamics, regional production capacities, and logistical trends that influence pricing, supply chain management, and economic planning within the mineral and energy sectors.

Analysis of the 2023 data reveals several notable trends. Overall recovered sulfur production and shipments remained stable at approximately 8.01 million metric tons, matching the previous year’s production and slightly increasing shipments by 30 thousand metric tons. PAD 3 continues to be the dominant district, producing 4.78 million metric tons, an increase of 130 thousand metric tons from 2022, driven primarily by petroleum and coke sources which rose from 4.55 to 4.71 million metric tons. Conversely, PAD 1 experienced a significant decline in total production, dropping from 207 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 169 thousand metric tons in 2023, largely due to decreases in both petroleum and coke and natural gas sources. Natural gas-derived sulfur production also declined notably in PAD 4 and PAD 5, falling from 410 to 339 thousand metric tons. These shifts highlight regional variations in feedstock availability and processing activity, underscoring the importance of monitoring district-level data for strategic resource management.