Russia bans sulfur exports - intel reveals real reason behind it
Photo: Russia bans sulfur exports (Russian media)
Russia has temporarily banned the export of technical sulfur until the end of 2025 in an attempt to sustain fertilizer production and avoid a shortage of critical raw materials, according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
The ban applies to all major forms of sulfur, including liquid, granular, and lump. Officially, the decision is justified as a measure to "protect food security," but it actually signals deepening problems in Russia's chemical industry.
Although Russia is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of sulfur, its output has dropped by 11.2% since the start of the year, down to 3.17 million tons. The decline stems from reduced oil and gas processing, the main sources of technical sulfur.
Despite having significant reserves and production capacity, the country has been forced to import raw materials — in October alone, it purchased approximately 35,000 tons at $390 per ton. This indicates that the domestic market is struggling to meet demand, while producers are facing higher production costs due to rising internal prices.
Intelligence officials emphasize that the new restrictions could further pressure Russian chemical producers and traders, who will lose part of their foreign currency earnings.
The government hopes to stabilize domestic supply, but given current trends, Russia's industry risks facing a systemic raw material shortage and an even lower production efficiency.
Russia's economy in crisis
Earlier, intelligence sources reported that Russia's economy has reached a point where even official statistics can no longer conceal the depth of the crisis.
According to the Foreign Intelligence Service, the total profit of Russian enterprises between January and August 2025 fell by 8.3%, reflecting a sharp decline in business activity.
Despite the Kremlin's attempts to project economic stability, analysts estimate that about half of Russia's state budget is now spent on the war against Ukraine, further deepening the domestic economic crisis.
