Sulphuric Acid Pricing Report

Sulphuric Acid Prices December 2023

The price of sulphuric acid in the United States for Q4 2023 reached 59/MT in December.  The United States market experienced a decrease in prices and market fluctuations. The trend indicated a 10.7% decline in prices from the earlier quarter. The reduction in sulphuric acid prices is attributed to weak demand and limited market fundamentals.                

In Q4 2023, Japan experienced a significant decline in Sulphuric Acid prices to $29/MT, marking a 33% decrease from the previous quarter and an 18% drop within the quarter itself. This was attributed to poor consumption rates and a reduced need to replenish inventories in the APAC area, leading to an oversupply.      

In Belgium, sulphuric acid prices declined by 6.5% reaching $54/MT, influenced by the weak demand from agrochemical producers, as well as the sufficient inventory levels in the storage facilities.     

In Saudi Arabia, the sulphuric acid market in Q4 2023 experienced a downturn, with prices dropping to $55/MT. This represented a drop of 13% from the previous quarter and 2% across the quarter. Despite a steady supply, demand due to the agrochemical sector remained sluggish, reducing trading activities among the key manufacturers and no rush to restock inventories as seen on a year-on-year basis.  

Sulphuric Acid Price Trend, Market Analysis, and News

IMARC’s newly published report, titled Sulphuric Acid Pricing Report 2024: Price Trend, Chart, Market Analysis, News, Demand, Historical and Forecast Data, offers an in-depth analysis of sulphuric acid pricing, covering an analysis of global and regional market trends and the critical factors driving these price movements.

It encompasses an in-depth review of spot prices at major ports, a breakdown of prices including Ex Works, FOB, and CIF, alongside a region-wise dissection of price trends across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

The report examines the elements influencing sulphuric acid price fluctuations, such as changes in raw material costs, supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical factors, and industry-specific developments. Additionally, it integrates the latest market news, providing stakeholders with up-to-date information on market shifts, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, thereby offering a comprehensive overview that aids in strategic decision-making and forecasting.

Sulphuric Acid Market Analysis

The global sulphuric acid market size reached US$ 15.5Billion in 2023. By 2032, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 17.9 Billion, at a projected CAGR of 1.50% during 2023-2032.

• Sulphuric acid is widely utilized in the agricultural sector in the production of phosphate fertilizers, to which the latter is mainly applied. The growing world's population and the consequent pressure for increased agricultural yields contribute to the demand for fertilizers. Hence, the market demand for sulphuric acid has increased.  
• Emission of sulphur oxides (SOx) is regularly greatly restricted within environmental policies and legislative acts. As a result of these new regulations, the sulphuric acid regeneration has seen an increased demand for practices and technologies which present cleaner alternatives for sulphur disposal.    
• Sulfuric acid is employed by refineries that use petroleum to process oil and gas, this application is considered to be very important due to the fact that the global energy and fuel demand is still on the rise. Sulfuric acid is an indispensable ingredient for making clean and fuel-efficient with its fundamental nature. According to the National Mineral Inventory (NMI) data, which utilizes the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) system, the total pyrite reserves and resources in the country were estimated at 1,674 million tonnes as of April 1, 2015.   
• Sulphuric acid in manufacturing covers a broad spectrum of products starting from chemicals over pharmaceuticals to metals. Its use as a direct material in the manufacturing of other chemicals such as synthetic hydrochloric acid, dyes, and synthetic detergents underscores its importance in the chemical industry. 
• The extraction and processing of metals, along the lines of copper, zinc, and nickel, demand an extensive use of sulphuric acid. The continuous needs of the construction, automotive and electronic sectors for these metals extend to the use of sulphuric acid as a metal processing medium.
• Electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage solutions have catalyzed an increase in the demand for lead-acid batteries and several other batteries that use sulphuric acid as electrolyte. This rapidly increasing area of the sulphuric acid market is a primary source of growth.
• Economic expansion particularly in developing countries increases the need for sulphuric acid and that can be seen in the application in the field of construction, automotive and manufacturing. With the growth of these countries’ economies their consumption of sulphuric acid for infrastructure and industrialization purposes also increases.   
• Technological developments promoting more efficient and sustainable methods of sulfuric acid production is another market driver. If technological breakthroughs resulting in lower environmental damage or increased efficiency drive the overall depreciation, the demand for sulfuric acid could grow in many sectors due to reduced overall costs.       

Sulphuric Acid News

The report covers the latest developments, updates, and trends impacting the global sulphuric acid market, providing stakeholders with timely and relevant information. This segment covers a wide array of news items, including the inauguration of new production facilities, advancements in sulphuric acid production technologies, strategic market expansions by key industry players, and significant mergers and acquisitions that shape the industry landscape.    

Latest developments in the sulphuric acid industry:         

• In 2022, PVS Chemicals Inc has partnered with energy systems group, LLC (ESG) to improve sustainability at its sulfuric acid plant in Chicago, Illinois5 by capturing waste steam to generate 2.6 MW of renewable electricity through a steam turbine generator in the new onsite Waste Heat to Power (WHP) Plant.   
• In 2021, BASF, Zhejiang Jiahua Energy Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang Jiafu New Material Technology Co. Ltd. to further expand production capacity of electronic-grade sulfuric acid plant in China.

Product Description

Sulfuric acid is a corrosive liquid with concentrated power, with the formula H2SO4, which is widely used in industrial sectors. It is one of the most mass-produced materials in the world. It is also known as a ubiquitous material that is needed in the industries from multiple sectors.

It partially provides noise-free treatment of water and the process water generated by the industries, besides employing generation of energy which in turn serves as one of the raw materials for the manufacture of fertilizers critical for global agriculture, and essential in the manufacture of chemicals, dyes, explosives, and petroleum refining process.

Moreover, sulfuric acid is used in metal production, which is mainly in the ores leaching process and provides the only way in which we extract valuable metals, such as copper and zinc. As a strong acid which can donate protons, it has multiple tools in the lab and may be employed in other settings as well.  

Regional Coverage

The report provides a detailed analysis of the sulphuric acid market across different regions, each with unique pricing dynamics influenced by localized market conditions, supply chain intricacies, and geopolitical factors. This includes price trends and supply and demand trends for each region, along with spot prices by major ports. The report also provides coverage of ex-works, FOB, and CIF prices, as well as the key factors influencing the price trends. 

Global Sulphuric Acid Price

The report offers a holistic view of the global sulphuric acid pricing trends, reflecting the worldwide interplay of supply-demand balances, international trade policies, and overarching economic factors that shape the market on a macro level.

North America Sulphuric Acid Price

The North America sulphuric acid market went downhill, as prices were declining and demand from the main downstream sectors became weak. This bearish situation emerged from the combination of factors which include the higher stockpiles level and the general volatility of the market. Moreover, the decreasing trend of the upstream sulphur, which is the crucially vital raw material for sulphuric acid production, alongside other factors, had a net effect of causing more downward pressure on sulphuric acid prices.

Specific data on sulphuric acid prices within the United States and Canada can also be provided.

Asia Pacific Sulphuric Acid Price

In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, the Sulphuric Acid market went through a downward trend in the 4th quarter of year 2023 with the decrease in demand, including from agrochemical sector. This downward pressure on demand resulted in the stockpiling of unsold goods, which forced prices to decline throughout the area. In Japan, the market was affected negatively due to the fact that the inventory is cleared slowly and due to the oversupply. An additional factor was the non-replenishment of stocks and less trading between regions, which were also reasons for the decrease of demand.

This analysis can be further extended to include detailed sulphuric acid prices for a comprehensive list of countries within the region.

Europe Sulphuric Acid Price

Europe’s sulphuric acid industry recorded a downward pattern with this trend being exerted by the variety of factors. At first, an increase in spot and future market trading led to higher operational cost, which was strongly reflected on the price movements observed in that time period. While the overcovering market led to some positive changes, the significant increase in transportation fuel costs had heavily burdened the final product prices, thus the expenses went above the budget.

The decline in prices, however, was even more affected by the low demand from the downstream agrochemical sectors and balanced inventories of materials, that led to the continued drop of the prices.

This analysis can be extended to include detailed sulphuric acid price information for a comprehensive list of countries.

Middle East and Africa Sulphuric Acid Price

The market of sulphuric acid in the Middle East and Africa region showed a diminishing pattern in the fourth quarter of 2023, chiefly reflecting a rise in supply as well as a reduction in demand for agrochemicals downstream. The lack of balance was seen in a diversion in trading activities within the large manufacturing zones.

In addition to region-wise data, information on sulphuric acid prices for countries can also be provided.

Latin America Sulphuric Acid Price

The analysis of sulphuric acid prices in Latin America provides a detailed overview, reflecting the unique market dynamics in the region influenced by economic policies, industrial growth, and trade frameworks.

This comprehensive review can be extended to include specific countries within the region.

Report Coverage

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report presents a detailed analysis of sulphuric acid pricing, covering global and regional trends, spot prices at key ports, and a breakdown of Ex Works, FOB, and CIF prices.
• The study examines factors affecting sulphuric acid price volatility, including raw material costs, supply-demand shifts, geopolitical impacts, and industry developments, offering insights for informed decision-making.
• The competitive landscape review equips stakeholders with crucial insights into the latest market news, regulatory changes, and technological advancements, ensuring a well-rounded, strategic overview for forecasting and planning.
• IMARC offers various subscription options, including monthly, quarterly, and biannual updates, allowing clients to stay informed with the latest market trends, ongoing developments, and comprehensive market insights, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the sulphuric acid industry.