Sulfuric Acid Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Grade (Industrial, Technical), By End Use Industry (Fertilizers, Chemical Manufacturing, Automotive, Textile, Pulp & Paper, Others), By Sales Channel (Direct, Indirect), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 14.39 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.17%
Fastest Growing Segment	Industrial
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 18.39 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Sulfuric Acid Market will grow from USD 14.39 Billion in 2025 to USD 18.39 Billion by 2031 at a 4.17% CAGR. Sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive mineral acid that acts as a fundamental raw material in diverse industrial processes, primarily including fertilizer production, chemical synthesis, and metallurgical leaching. The market is largely propelled by the extensive demand for phosphate fertilizers to support global agricultural intensification and food security measures. Additionally, the compound is integral to manufacturing industrial chemicals and processing non-ferrous metals such as copper and zinc. This substantial consumption is evidenced by recent industry activity; according to the International Fertilizer Association, in 2024, global phosphoric acid production was estimated to rise by 4 percent to 88.4 million metric tons, a figure that directly dictates the volume of sulfuric acid utilized worldwide.

However, the market encounters a significant impediment regarding the logistical complexity and strict safety regulations associated with transporting this hazardous material. International mandates governing the handling and transit of corrosive substances impose elevated operational costs and compliance burdens on suppliers, limiting the feasibility of long-distance trade. Consequently, these stringent regulatory frameworks create geographical supply imbalances and effectively constrain the ease of market expansion into regions lacking domestic production infrastructure.

Key Market Drivers

Escalating demand for phosphate fertilizers to support global food security is the primary force propelling the sulfuric acid market. As the agricultural sector intensifies efforts to feed a growing population, the chemical processing of phosphate rock—which heavily relies on sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid—has surged. This trend is particularly evident in major fertilizer-producing hubs where export activities have ramped up to meet international requirements. For instance, according to OCP Group, March 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results' report, export volumes of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) increased by 48 percent year-over-year, highlighting the robust consumption of acid in creating high-analysis nutrient products to satisfy global agricultural needs.

Concurrently, the expansion of base metal mining and hydrometallurgical leaching activities significantly bolsters market growth. The global energy transition has necessitated a massive scale-up in the extraction of metals like copper, where sulfuric acid is essential for ore leaching and refining processes. Mining corporations are aggressively increasing output to bridge supply deficits, thereby driving the upstream demand for this mineral acid. According to Teck Resources, February 2025, in the 'Unaudited Fourth Quarter Results for 2024', the company achieved a record annual copper production of 446,000 tonnes, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring the rapid industrial scaling that sustains acid application. This industrial momentum is also reflected in cross-border trade; according to the General Administration of Customs China, in 2025, cumulative sulfuric acid exports for the full year of 2024 totaled 2.68 million metric tons, illustrating the extensive movement of material to support these sectoral demands.

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Key Market Challenges

The logistical complexity and stringent safety mandates governing sulfuric acid transport significantly impede the market by enforcing a highly regionalized supply structure. Because the compound is classified as a hazardous corrosive substance, suppliers face elevated compliance costs and liability risks that often make long-distance trade economically unviable. This constraint effectively fragments the global landscape, preventing surplus production in industrial smelting hubs from efficiently reaching high-demand agricultural regions. Consequently, the market suffers from persistent supply imbalances where local shortages stifle consumption growth in import-dependent territories, despite the existence of adequate capacity elsewhere in the world.

This inability to balance global supply and demand through trade is particularly detrimental given the robust scale of downstream requirements. According to the International Fertilizer Association, in 2024, global fertilizer consumption was forecast to recover to a record level of approximately 204 million metric tons. This substantial demand relies heavily on consistent sulfuric acid availability; however, the logistical bottlenecks prevent the seamless movement of acid to meet these rising nutrient requirements across different continents. As a result, the market's potential for expansion is directly throttled by the physical and regulatory difficulties of transporting the raw material to where it is most needed.

Key Market Trends

The surge in production of ultra-pure electronic grade sulfuric acid is driven by the rapid expansion of the semiconductor manufacturing sector, particularly in regions prioritizing supply chain localization. As chip architectures shrink to nanometer scales, the requirement for parts-per-trillion purity levels in wet chemicals has intensified, prompting major suppliers to upgrade their facilities to meet these stringent specifications. This capital shift is exemplified by industry leaders directing funds toward capacity growth; according to Chemtrade Logistics, May 2024, in the '2024 Investor Presentation', the company planned to allocate approximately $40 million specifically for growth capital expenditures within its ultrapure sulfuric acid business to support the rising needs of the semiconductor ecosystem.

Increasing adoption of spent acid regeneration and recycling technologies is reshaping the market as industrial producers prioritize circular economy models to mitigate environmental impact. Refineries and chemical complexes are moving away from single-use consumption, favoring regeneration services that convert hazardous spent acid back into commercial-grade material, thereby reducing disposal costs and sulfur dependency. The significant market valuation of these sustainable operations highlights their growing commercial viability; according to Veolia, July 2024, in a corporate press release, the company agreed to sell its North American sulfuric acid regeneration business to American Industrial Partners for an enterprise value of $620 million, underscoring the substantial asset value attributed to circular acid recovery infrastructure.

Segmental Insights

The Industrial segment represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Sulfuric Acid Market, driven by its indispensable role in diverse manufacturing sectors. This accelerated expansion is primarily supported by the rising production of essential intermediate chemicals, such as hydrochloric and nitric acids, alongside increasing requirements in the automotive industry for lead-acid battery manufacturing. Additionally, the metal processing sector heavily relies on this acid for steel pickling and copper leaching operations. Furthermore, stringent guidelines from regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency regarding wastewater treatment have amplified the demand for sulfuric acid as an effective pH neutralizer in industrial effluents.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the global sulfuric acid market due to the extensive demand for phosphate fertilizers in major agrarian economies like China and India. The region requires significant volumes of this acid to produce fertilizers that support rising food security needs. Furthermore, rapid industrialization in the chemical and metal processing sectors drives additional consumption. Strict mandates from regulatory bodies, such as China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, regarding sulfur dioxide emissions have compelled metal smelters to capture waste gas and convert it into sulfuric acid, thereby increasing regional supply and market availability.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Aurubis AG provided a strategic update highlighting the imminent commissioning of its new recycling facility in Richmond, USA, scheduled to start in September 2025. Alongside this expansion news, the company reported strong fiscal performance driven by significantly higher revenues from sulfuric acid sales, attributing this to robust demand and favorable pricing in the global market. This development reflects the company’s successful execution of its growth strategy and its ability to capitalize on market conditions for its key industrial by-products.
• In November 2024, EuroChem Karatau announced the project timeline for a new chemical manufacturing complex in the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan, which will feature a major sulfuric acid production facility. The planned unit is designed to have an annual capacity of 800,000 tons, with approximately half of the output intended for uranium extraction operations and the remainder for fertilizer production. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, with the facility expected to support the company's strategic expansion into potassium sulfate and other chemical value chains in the region.
• In August 2024, Metso Corporation finalized delivery contracts with Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company to supply key technologies for a new copper smelter complex in Uzbekistan. The agreement includes the design and provision of a high-capacity sulfuric acid plant capable of producing 1.8 million tons per annum. This facility will process off-gases from the copper flash smelting process, converting them into industrial-grade acid. This project aims to enhance the environmental efficiency of the smelter by ensuring effective gas cleaning and utilizing by-products to support the region's industrial needs.
• In July 2024, OCP S.A. issued a notice of award to Worley Chemetics for the development of three greenfield sulfuric acid plants at the Mzinda Phosphate Hub in Morocco. Under this collaboration, the engineering company will provide its proprietary sulfuric acid technology, specialized equipment, and detailed advisory services. The new facilities are a key component of the phosphate producer's "Green Investment" program, designed to sustainably boost fertilizer production capacity. The plants will feature advanced energy recovery systems to generate carbon-free electricity and utilize air cooling to significantly reduce water consumption.

Key Market Players

• BASF
• DuPont
• Yara International
• Nutrien
• Tata Chemicals
• Kemira
• Nouryon
• SABIC
• OQ Chemicals
• Solvay

By Grade	By End Use Industry	By Sales Channel	By Region
Industrial Technical	Fertilizers Chemical Manufacturing Automotive Textile Pulp & Paper Others	Direct Indirect	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Sulfuric Acid Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Sulfuric Acid Market, By Grade:

• Industrial
• Technical

• Sulfuric Acid Market, By End Use Industry:

• Fertilizers
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Textile
• Pulp & Paper
• Others

• Sulfuric Acid Market, By Sales Channel:

• Direct
• Indirect

• Sulfuric Acid Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE