# Ammonium sulphate: Feedstocks

Why its inputs are almost free

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

On paper AS is ammonia plus sulphuric acid: 0.26 t of ammonia and 0.74 t of acid (about 0.24 t of sulphur) per tonne. In practice most producers get both almost free as by-products of caprolactam, coke or flue-gas cleaning. That is why by-product AS sets world prices and synthetic plants run only where acid or ammonia has nowhere better to go.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [N Nitrogen (ammonia)](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nitrogen/) | 0.258 t per t (stoichiometry) | nitrogen | about 60-70% of synthetic AS raw material cost (indicative) | stoichiometry; USGS MCS 2026 |
| [S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/) | about 0.24 t S (0.742 t H2SO4) per t | sulphate and sulphur nutrient | about 30-40% for synthetic AS (indicative) | stoichiometry; sulphur tile |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | indirect | AS is a by-product of nylon 6 monomer | allocated cost near zero | indicative |
| [Kc Coking coal](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/coking_coal/) | indirect | ammonia source from coking | allocated cost near zero | indicative |
| [Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/) | about 8.5 MMBtu per t synthetic AS (0.258 x about 33 MMBtu/t NH3, indicative) | ammonia feedstock | via ammonia | nitrogen tile (indicative) |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Chinese caprolactam and coke by-product AS is the lowest-cost supply because producers must move it. Synthetic producers are high on the curve unless they use spent acid. Freight is a large share of delivered cost for a 21% N product, which favours nearby by-product supply.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[S Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/sulfur/)[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ammonium_sulphate/links/index.md)