Aramco Trading is the biggest exporter of sulfur in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, exporting around 3.5 million tons per year. Sulfur is an important raw material that is used in fertilizers and insecticides. Sulfuric acid is also used in gunpowder, matchsticks, and in other industrial materials, such as asphalt and cement. Sulfur is removed from most petroleum products, as mandated by global environmental regulations. As a result, many refinery and gas processing facilities produce associated sulfur.