Sulfuric Acid Market Overview
What is Sulfuric Acid?Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is a strong mineral acid widely used in industries such as fertilizers, chemicals, metallurgy, petroleum refining, batteries, and wastewater treatment.
Key Applications:
Fertilizers: Majorly used in phosphate fertilizers.
Chemical Industry: Production of acids, detergents, and other chemicals.
Metals & Mining: Metal extraction and refining.
Petroleum: High-octane fuel production.
Batteries: Lead-acid battery manufacturing.
Wastewater Treatment: Neutralization of alkaline waste.
Market Drivers:
Growing agricultural demand.
Industrial and manufacturing growth.
Rise in battery production and energy storage needs.
Challenges:
Strict environmental regulations.
Supply chain dependency on raw materials like sulfur.
Price volatility and geopolitical risks.
Regional Highlights:
Asia-Pacific: Largest market due to China and India.
North America: High demand in fertilizers and chemicals.
Africa: Increasing production to support mining industries.
Recent Developments:
New sulfuric acid plants being built in mining regions (e.g., Namibia).
Major producers like Aurubis leveraging sulfuric acid as a revenue stream.