Sulfuric Acid Market is Segmented By Type (Dilute Sulphuric Acid, Battery Acid, Concentrated Sulphuric Acid, Chamber Acid), By Raw Material (Pyrite Ore, Elemental Sulfur, Base Metal Smelters, Others), By Manufacturing Process (Single Contact Process, Wet Contact Process, Wet Sulfuric, Lead Chamber Process, Acid Process), By Application (Fertilizers, Pulp and Paper, Chemical Manufacturing, Metal Processing, Automotive Battery Acid, Textile Industry, Others) and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031
Market Size, Demand Insights
The global sulfuric acid market has reached USD YYmillion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD YYmillion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of YY% during the forecast period 2024-2031.
Scope and Summary
| Metrics | Details |
| Market CAGR | High |
| Segments Covered | By Type, By Raw Material, By Manufacturing Process, By Application, and By Region |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other vital insights. |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market Share | North America |
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Sulfuric acid is a dense, oily, colorless, acidic liquid that is one of the most commercially important chemicals. Sulfuric acid is produced industrially through the reaction of water with sulfur trioxide, which is produced through the chemical combination of sulfur dioxide and oxygen via the contact or chamber process.
The acid is employed in fertilizers, dyes, pigments, medicines, detergents, explosives, and inorganic salts and acids in various concentrations and petroleum refining and metallurgical operations. In addition, sulfuric acid is used as the electrolyte in lead-acid storage batteries, one of its most well-known applications.
Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)
Dynamics and Trends
Increased production of nutrient-rich food crops drives the global sulfuric acid market. However, environmental regulations are predicted to significantly impede the sulfuric acid market growth.
Increased production of nutrient-rich food crops drives the global sulfuric acid market
Fertilizer consumption is expected to rise as farmers expect higher yields and the availability of fertile land for agricultural practices decreases due to expanding urbanization. Fertilizers are now an essential aspect of agriculture, providing nutrients such as phosphate, potassium, and nitrogen to the soil.
The vast majority of sulfuric acid produces phosphoric acid, then phosphate fertilizers such as calcium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium phosphates. In addition, fertilizers, such as the two-component fertilizers di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), provide farmers with an efficient way to provide soil nitrogen and phosphate. Sulfuric acid is a vital first stage in manufacturing DAP and MAP before being combined with phosphate rock to form phosphoric acid.
The growing demand has led companies to increase their production expansion of sulphuric acid to cater to the demand. For instance, in February 2023, Itafos Inc. resumed its sulfuric acid production and sales at Arraias. The sulfuric acid plant at Arraias has a capacity of 220kt per year. The company anticipates that the sulfuric acid plant at Arraias will be operational with a baseload capacity of about 10.5kt per month.
Environmental regulations are predicted to impede the growth of the sulfuric acid market significantly
Sulfuric acid is an acidic substance that can cause serious skin and eye burns. On touch, it can cause third-degree burns and blindness. Sulfuric acid mist can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and at greater concentrations, it can induce an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. In addition, asthmatics are especially vulnerable to pulmonary inflammation. Repeated exposures may result in irreversible lung and tooth damage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classed "occupational exposure to powerful inorganic acid mists comprising sulfuric acid" as carcinogenic to humans.
COVID-19 Impact on Sulfuric Acid Market Growth
Concerns concerning large sulphuric acid stocks at copper, zinc, and lead smelters, which have been present since Q4 2019, have reappeared as logistics concerns arise due to the new coronavirus outbreak. Furthermore, before the transportation limits, sulphuric acid inventory pressure was already becoming a structural, profit-related problem for copper smelters, albeit this worsens the situation for some smelters.
However, due to transportation constraints, the quick accumulation of sulphuric acid inventory will likely require lead and zinc smelters in north China to reduce output over the forecast period.
Market Segment Analysis
Based on process, the global sulfuric acid market is segmented into fertilizers, pulp and paper, chemical manufacturing, metal processing, automotive battery acid, textile industry, and others.
Sulfuric acid is used in large quantities to produce phosphoric acid, then used to produce phosphate-based fertilizers such as mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), both of which employ sulfuric acid as the primary first step in the manufacturing process. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the U.S., global fertilizers are predicted to reach 197.93 million tons in 2023 and 200.92 million tons in 2023, with phosphorus-based fertilizers growing at a Y-o-Y rate of 1.8% in 2023.
Companies have increased their sulphuric acid production capacity to meet the rising demand for fertilizers application. For instance, Coromandel International announced a new 1650 metric tonnes per day design capacity sulfuric acid plant at its fertilizer complex in Visakhapatnam. The investment is consistent with Coromandel's long-term goals of securing essential raw materials for fertilizer manufacturing. The 1650 TPD sulphuric acid plant will be constructed on Coromandel's existing Visakhapatnam plant grounds.
Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)
Market Geographical Analysis
Based on geography, the global sulfuric acid market is segmented into North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.
Asia-Pacific is projected to have a significant market share because of the region's increasing fertilizer, chemical, and manufacturing industries in nations such as India, Japan, and China. In addition, sulfuric acid is utilized in oil refineries, car batteries, metal processing, paper & pulp, and other industries.
According to the China Sulphuric Acid Industry Association's data, China's sulphuric acid industry will have a capacity of 125 million tonnes, an output of 98.59 million tonnes, and a capacity utilization rate of 79% by 2020. Domestic mainstream sulfuric acid preparation methods include generating sulphuric acid from sulfur, smelting, and pyrite, with sulphuric acid production accounting for 44% and smelting acid production accounting for 36%, the two most common important processes. Furthermore, pyrite acid accounts for approximately 17.8% of total output.
Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)
Market Companies and Competitive Landscape
The global sulfuric acid market is moderately consolidated and competitive with multinational businesses. Major players in the market include Shrieve, Groupe Chimique Tunisien, PotashCorp, Maaden - Saudi Arabian Mining Company, PVS Chemicals, OCP Group, Aurubis, Southern States Chemical, BASF SE, and Veolia, among others. The companies in the market incorporate different market strategies to achieve growth in the global sulfuric acid market; these include technological advancement, mergers, product launches, contributions, acquisitions, and collaborations.
Shrieve
Overview: Shrieve is a U.S.-based, privately held, independent company in Woodlands, Texas. The company represents several companies operating on a regional and global scale in various areas, including Industrial & Specialty Chemicals, Specialty Lubricants & Products, and Oil & Gas.
Product Portfolio: Shrieve produces and supplies massive amounts of sulfuric acid around North America in virgin sulfur-burnt, black, low-concentration acids: 55%, 70%, 78% and various spent forms.
Key Development:
- In October 2020, Shrieve acquired CLP Chemicals' styrene business unit and other assets. CLP Chemicals is a market-leading industrial chemical distributor based in Houston, Texas, U.S.
Why Purchase the Report?
- To visualize the global sulfuric acid market segmentation by type, raw material, manufacturing process, application, and region and understand key commercial assets and players.
- Identify commercial opportunities in the global sulfuric acid market by analyzing trends and co-development.
- Excel data sheet with numerous data points of sulfuric acid market-level with four segments.
- PDF report consisting of cogently put together market analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
- Product mapping available in excel consists of critical products of all the major market players
The global sulfuric acid market report would provide approximately 69 tables, 70 figures, and almost 206 pages.
Target Audience 2023
- Service Providers/ Buyers
- Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
- Chemical Manufacturers
- Research Professionals
