AGLOBIS and RHENUS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and a land reservation agreement. This milestone is the basis for AGLOBIS to be able to establish an approx. 400 KT sulphur remelter plant in the port of Duisburg with the view that the first molten sulphur from this unit could become available in 2027. As a specialist of big volume dry bulk handling, our partner RHENUS will be the inbound European inland supply chain partner focusing on the sea ports material handling up to the on-site dry bulk handling.

The remelter process and molten sulphur supplies will be organized by AGLOBIS in collaboration with the inhouse Ruhrtrans transport company.

Looking ahead, the next phase will involve basic engineering at the site.

The background for this investment is as follows:

In response to the rapidly evolving energy landscape in Europe, driven by the ongoing reduction in fossil fuel-based energy production, the European sulphur market has transformed from a position of oversupply to becoming increasingly dependent on imports, particularly for molten sulphur. Ensuring a stable and efficient supply of this crucial material is more important than ever. That’s why Aglobis AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., is taking proactive steps to support the European industry’s long-term needs for molten sulphur.

The situation now:

Currently, our regular supply of molten sulphur is reinforced by overseas imports, facilitated through the Mitsui seagoing vessel fleet. These vessels deliver significant and consistent quantities to our customers, and as demand continues to grow, we are constantly optimizing our global shipping resources to meet these needs.

The way forward:

To further strengthen the reliability of future supply, we are pleased to announce a key development: in collaboration with our global partners, we will be serving the European molten sulphur market with large shipments of solid sulphur, ranging between 35,000 to 45,000 tons each. These shipments will arrive via the transshipment hubs in Rotterdam and Antwerp and will be directed to a new large-scale sulphur remelting facility at the port of Duisburg.

The well-managed Rhine River, connecting the coastal harbors of Belgium and the Netherlands to Duisburg, serves as a reliable and economically efficient waterway, facilitating the continuous and large-scale barging of solid sulphur to our remelting facility. Once processed, the molten sulphur will be distributed through a multi-modal transport network. This includes dedicated rail tank cars, tank trucks of Ruhrtrans GmbH and river barges operated by partners, ensuring seamless delivery to our valued customers.

Our comprehensive supply chain solution -from sourcing and shipping solid sulphur in large quantities, transshipping to appropriately sized barges, remelting at a state-of-the-art facility, and distributing via low-emission transport -ensures a significant, reliable, and sustainable supply of molten sulphur. This critical raw material is essential for maintaining the vitality of the chemical industry across Europe.