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The SSPX is a schismatic (but not heretical) group. They have rejected Rome and they did not have the apostolic connection (connection back to Peter).

This partially reconnects them back to the apostles and the right to forgive sins as granted by Jesus.

I thought in the Catholic Church a priest can absolve ANY sin.

(My explanation is not very good, but it will give you an idea of the situation.) A priest has to have the permission of his bishop to perform absolution. The bishops of the SSPX have been separated from the authority of the Church, and so they did not have the authority to grant their priests the authority to forgive sins. As you note, a priest with the facility to forgive sins can forgive pretty much any sin that a repentant sinner confesses. Am thinking there may be one or two situations that only a bishop can resolve, but am not 100% sure about that.

A given “average” priest does not have the ability to forgive the sin of abortion. That is usually reserved for a priest or priest the Pope has specially chosen in the past to do so (because the sin is considered to cause excommunication automatically, and excommunication can only be lifted by the Pope or a priest of his choosing)

For the Jubilee year Francis has “chosen” all priests to perform this act so once it takes effect (Dec 8 2015) all priests will be able to forgive the sin of abortion. (Note, for a while now, all priests in the U.S. were able to do so; as of 12/8, all priests around the world will be able to do so)

Also this article speaks about the Pope allowing SSPX priests to licitly forgive sins. Before this (before 12/8) they have always had the “valid” ability to do so but could never “licitly” do so (the article is a bit off in this regard, SSPX priests could always celebrate the Sacraments “validly” just not “licitly”) meaning they (and any pennitant who knowingly went to them for Confession) were actually breaking the (Canon) law by celebrating confession. So they were actually sinning if they knew what they were doing was wrong and did it anyway (except in the case of urgent need like imminent death). Now (as of 12/8) they will no longer be under such rule and will be able to freely celebrate that sacrament without fear of breaking the law (Canon Law).

Priests need to be granted “faculties” in a particular diocese by the bishop OF THAT DIOCESE to be able to hear confessions and grant absolutions. The SSPX have no dioceses. They are essentially schismatic and extra territorial and thus cannot validly hear confessions (or perform valid marriages by the way). Now, at least for the Year of Mercy, they will be able to say they can.