From the first post
"Contract one or more refineries or natural gas producers to procure about 1,000,000 to 1.25 Million Metric tons of selected sulfur compounds . . . Canada would be a perfect source. . .they have an over abundance of the stuff. . .
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/minerals-meta...09-review/3598"
From the link in the obove quote
"CANADIAN DEVELOPMENTSPreliminary data show Canadian sulphur production was roughly 7.5 Mt in 2009, an 8.4% decline compared to 8.2 Mt in 2008. The decline came mainly from natural gas processing. Canadian elemental sulphur output in 2009 was 6.6 Mt, a 6.2% decrease compared to 7 Mt in 2008. An additional 890 000 t of sulphur equivalent,
1 in the form of sulphuric acid and liquefied sulphur dioxide was recovered from the smelting of metals.
Canada exported approximately 5.8 Mt of sulphur in 2009, a drop of 1.8 Mt, or 23%, compared to 7.6 Mt in 2008. Elemental sulphur exports decreased by 1.3 Mt, or 19%, compared to the previous year’s volume. Exports of sulphur in other forms (SOF) were approximately 283 000 t of sulphur equivalent, a decrease of almost 500 000 t compared to 782 000 t in 2008. Elemental sulphur exports to offshore markets were 4.1 Mt in 2009, a decline of 12%, or 550 000 t, compared to 2008’s 4.7 Mt. Elemental sulphur exports to the United States dropped by 33% and sulphuric acid exports plunged by 65%."
Since your chosen supplier has stated that production has dropped in consecutive years that would suggest that no one has placed a large continuing order.
"Ahh.." you may say.." but they (the sulphur producers) would keep the order quiet so no one notices the extra production of sulphur"
However, since the whole operation is secret, the producers would have no reason to keep it quiet, and ,indeed, in these hard fiscal times, the producers would be keen to let everyone know that they had taken a significant order which would safeguard the jobs in the industry.