China imported 12.168 million tonnes of sulphur in 2009, 2.52 million tonnes higher than the previous record of 2007 and 3.75 million tonnes more than in 2008, when imports fell for the first time since 1997. From other available 2009 trade data, it would appear that China supported the market almost single-handedly, as there were significant declines in other major importing countries such as the United States, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa and Australia. Sulphur demand in China was undoubtedly robust – DAP exports set an all-time record of 2.073 million tonnes – but it was not as high as is suggested by the apparent consumption figure as port stocks rose by 1.2 million tonnes over the course of the year.