China's Move Leaves Sulphuric Acid Buyers with Fewer Easy Options

Price WatchTM reports 19% price surge in India and compounding supply shock as Strait of Hormuz closure amplifies market disruption

Global Chemical Markets, May 2026

China has suspended all exports of ordinary industrial sulphuric acid effective May 1, 2026, in a policy decision that Price WatchTM identifies as a structural inflection point for global industrial chemical supply chains rather than a temporary market correction.

China represented approximately 23% of global sulphuric acid exports prior to the suspension and 40-45% of all volumes exported from Asia. With 4.65 million tonnes exported in 2025 alone, a record, the halt is projected to remove at least 3 million tonnes from the seaborne market through the remainder of 2026. No comparable alternative supply sources exist to absorb this volume within the near term.

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Compounding Shock: Strait of Hormuz Closure

The suspension coincides with the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026 due to the Iran conflict, a route responsible for approximately one-third of global fertilizer trade and a significant share of global sulphur shipments. The simultaneous occurrence of these two disruptions has created an unprecedented dual supply shock affecting the foundational input chemical underpinning fertilizers, copper mining, battery production, semiconductor manufacturing, and oil refining.

Immediate Market Impact

Price WatchTM data confirms Indian sulphuric acid prices increased 19% across May 2026. China and Japan recorded 4% price increases in the final week of May alone. Global markets are undergoing simultaneous structural repricing with no short-term mitigation pathway available.

Chile, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Indonesia, and Peru have been identified as the most exposed nations due to their high dependence on sulphuric acid in mining, metal processing, and fertilizer production. Fertilizer and copper mining sectors face the highest disruption risk.

Outlook

Price WatchTM anticipates continued upward price pressure across global sulphuric acid markets as supply rebalancing through new capacity and demand adjustment is expected to require years rather than months.

For weekly sulphuric acid price assessments across China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Spain, visit price-watch.ai.

About Price WatchTM

At Price WatchTM, we provide real-time raw material pricing intelligence, feedstock tracking, freight monitoring, and regional trade flow analysis across global markets. From upstream movements to export trends and downstream demand, our platform helps manufacturers, traders, and procurement teams respond faster, manage exposure, and stay ahead of market shifts before margins come under pressure.

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Price WatchTM AI is an India-based, independent raw material price reporting agency that provides real-time price forecasts and data-driven insights into global raw material markets. Price-Watch AI specializes in tracking raw material prices, analyzing market trends, and delivering timely updates on plant shutdowns, supply disruptions, capacity expansions, and demand-supply dynamics. The Price-Watch AI platform empowers manufacturers, traders, and procurement professionals to make faster, smarter decisions. Leveraging AI-powered forecasting and over a decade of historical data, Price-Watch AI transforms market volatility into actionable opportunity.

This release was published on openPR.