China's Sulfuric Acid Price Shake the Global Market
On April 10, 2026, China officially released new regulations, comprehensively restricting the export of ordinary smelting by-product sulfuric acid and industrial sulfuric acid from May 1st. Only high-end electronic-grade high-purity sulfuric acid can be exported in small quantities. Recently, sulfuric acid prices have surged dramatically, exceeding 130%. No one expected that this seemingly ordinary chemical would directly shake multiple industries globally.
The non-ferrous metals industry was the first to be affected. Copper and nickel smelting both rely heavily on sulfuric acid. Copper and nickel are essential materials for new energy batteries. Reduced production capacity will likely lead to increased costs for batteries and electric vehicles.
Even more worrying is the food issue. Over 60% of the world's sulfuric acid is used to produce phosphate fertilizer. Major agricultural countries have seen a significant increase in fertilizer costs, leading to soaring phosphate fertilizer prices. Increased fertilizer prices will inevitably be passed on to the food sector, putting increasing pressure on global food prices and quietly raising the cost of food for ordinary people.
This seemingly insignificant basic chemical is linked to every link in the chain of metals, new energy, and food. Many people don't understand why my country suddenly tightened sulfuric acid exports. The logic is actually quite simple: we will no longer sell low-end basic raw materials at low prices, but will prioritize ensuring the safety of domestic industrial and fertilizer supplies for spring plowing, and take control of pricing power.
