Insoluble Sulfur Global Market Report 2026

Insoluble sulfur is a type of sulfur that does not dissolve in carbon disulfide. It improves the adhesion of rubber, prevents it from breaking apart, and enhances its resistance to heat and wear in tires.

The primary products of insoluble sulfur are non-oil-filled insoluble sulfur and oil-filled insoluble sulfur, available in regular grades, high dispersion grades, high stability grades, and special grades for various applications including tire manufacturing, footwear, industrial applications, cable and wire, pipes, and others. These products are utilized by industries such as automotive, medical, consumer goods, and others.

Tariffs are influencing the insoluble sulfur market by increasing costs of imported sulfur feedstock, processing equipment, and specialty additives used in rubber compounding. Automotive and industrial manufacturers in Asia-Pacific and Europe are most affected due to cross-border chemical supply dependencies, while North America faces higher specialty chemical costs. These tariffs are raising material costs for tire producers. However, they are also encouraging domestic chemical production, regional supply chain strengthening, and innovation in alternative rubber vulcanization solutions.

The insoluble sulfur market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides insoluble sulfur market statistics, including insoluble sulfur industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a insoluble sulfur market share, detailed insoluble sulfur market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the insoluble sulfur industry. This insoluble sulfur market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The insoluble sulfur market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.11 billion in 2025 to $1.17 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of automotive tire production, established rubber vulcanization processes, industrial demand for durable rubber goods, growth in cable and wire insulation use, availability of sulfur-based raw materials.

The insoluble sulfur market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.52 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for electric vehicle tires, rising focus on long-life rubber products, expansion of high-speed tire manufacturing, investments in specialty rubber chemicals, growth in advanced industrial rubber applications. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for high-stability insoluble sulfur grades, rising use in high-performance tire manufacturing, expansion of advanced rubber compounding techniques, growing focus on thermal and aging resistance, enhanced quality control in vulcanization.

The rising number of on-road vehicles is anticipated to drive the growth of the insoluble sulfur market in the coming years. An on-road vehicle is a self-propelled automobile designed for use on roads. Insoluble sulfur is a critical raw material in tire production, enhancing tire quality, durability, and resistance to aging and fatigue; therefore, the growing number of on-road vehicles is expected to propel the insoluble sulfur market. For example, in June 2023, the UK's Department for Transport reported that by the end of December 2023, over 1.1 million plug-in vehicles were licensed, representing 2.8% of all vehicles. Additionally, the total number of licensed vehicles in the UK reached 40.7 million, marking a 1.0% increase from December 2022. Consequently, the expanding number of on-road vehicles is fueling the growth of the insoluble sulfur market.

The growing demand from the tire industry is anticipated to drive the growth of the insoluble sulfur market in the coming years. The tire industry involves the design, manufacture, distribution, and sale of tires for various vehicles, including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and other specialized vehicles. Insoluble sulfur is used in this industry to enhance the durability and performance of rubber compounds, improving resistance to heat, aging, and weathering in tires. For example, in August 2023, Tire Grades, a US-based automotive tire information website, reported that approximately 300 million tires are sold annually in the US. Consequently, the rising demand from the tire industry is expected to support the growth of the insoluble sulfur market.

Leading companies in the insoluble sulfur market are concentrating on establishing new production facilities and implementing price adjustments to improve cost recovery and ensure sustainable supply operations. Insoluble sulfur price adjustment refers to a systematic revision of the selling price of insoluble sulfur products by manufacturers to account for fluctuations in production costs, raw material prices, energy expenses, logistics charges, and regulatory compliance. For example, in June 2025, Flexsys, a US-based specialty chemicals company specializing in advanced rubber and tire additives, announced a price increase for insoluble sulfur in India to address rising supply chain costs. The adjustment applied to all grades of insoluble sulfur and reflected higher raw material prices, increased energy and logistics costs, and ongoing investments in manufacturing reliability and product performance. This price revision helps maintain the supply of high-quality insoluble sulfur used in tire and rubber applications, where uniform dispersion, improved vulcanization efficiency, and enhanced durability are essential, reinforcing Flexsys's commitment to long-term customer support and operational sustainability.

Major companies operating in the insoluble sulfur market are Eastman Chemical Company, Grupa Azoty S.A., KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL, China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Limited, Nynas AB, Rongcheng Chemical General Factory, Willing New Materials Technology Co. Ltd., Oriental Carbon and Chemicals Limited, Henan Kailun Chemical Co. Ltd., Shikoku Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Lions Industries s.r.o, Tianjin Kemai Chemical Co. Ltd., Hubei Xiangyun (Group) Chemical Co. Ltd., Zhengzhou Double Vigour Chemical Product Co. Ltd., Ningbo Actmix Rubber Chemicals Co. Ltd., Shanghai Shangyi Chemical Technology Company, Sennics Co. Ltd., Eastar Chemical Corporation, Luoyang Sunrise Industrial Co. Ltd., Weifang Jiahong Chemical Co. Ltd., Changde Dingyuan Chemical Industrial Limited, Leader Technologies Co. Ltd, Kemai Chemical Co. Ltd., Puyang Willing Chemicals Co. Ltd., Jiangxi Shengchang Technology Co. Ltd., Hebi Hengli Chemical Co. Ltd., Jingcheng Chemical (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Chongqing Huayi Chemical Co. Ltd., Jining Fortune Biotech Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the insoluble sulfur market in 2025. The regions covered in the insoluble sulfur market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the insoluble sulfur market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The insoluble sulfur market consists of sales of barium sulfate (BaSO4) and lead sulfate (PbSO4). Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Insoluble Sulfur Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses insoluble sulfur market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for insoluble sulfur ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The insoluble sulfur market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Product: Non-Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur; Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur
• 2) By Grade: Regular Grades; High Dispersion Grades; High Stability Grades; Special Grades
• 3) By Application: Tire Manufacturing; Footwear; Industrial Application; Cable And Wire; Pipe; Other Applications
• 4) By End-User: Automotive; Consumer Goods; Other End-Users
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Non-Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur: Precipitated Non-Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur; Granular Non-Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur
• 2) By Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur: Precipitated Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur; Granular Oil-Filled Insoluble Sulfur
• Companies Mentioned: Eastman Chemical Company; Grupa Azoty S.A.; KUMHO PETROCHEMICAL; China Sunsine Chemical Holdings Limited; Nynas AB; Rongcheng Chemical General Factory; Willing New Materials Technology Co. Ltd.; Oriental Carbon and Chemicals Limited; Henan Kailun Chemical Co. Ltd.; Shikoku Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.; Lions Industries s.r.o; Tianjin Kemai Chemical Co. Ltd.; Hubei Xiangyun (Group) Chemical Co. Ltd.; Zhengzhou Double Vigour Chemical Product Co. Ltd.; Ningbo Actmix Rubber Chemicals Co. Ltd.; Shanghai Shangyi Chemical Technology Company; Sennics Co. Ltd.; Eastar Chemical Corporation; Luoyang Sunrise Industrial Co. Ltd.; Weifang Jiahong Chemical Co. Ltd.; Changde Dingyuan Chemical Industrial Limited; Leader Technologies Co. Ltd; Kemai Chemical Co. Ltd.; Puyang Willing Chemicals Co. Ltd.; Jiangxi Shengchang Technology Co. Ltd.; Hebi Hengli Chemical Co. Ltd.; Jingcheng Chemical (Dalian) Co. Ltd.; Chongqing Huayi Chemical Co. Ltd.; Jining Fortune Biotech Co. Ltd.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.