China halts sulfuric acid exports, jolting commodity and copper markets
Updated
Updated · MINING.com · May 4
China halts sulfuric acid exports, jolting commodity and copper markets
10 articles · Updated · MINING.com · May 4
The May 1 move follows a 73% surge in 2025 exports to 4.65 million tonnes, while Chile, a major buyer, has seen delivered spot acid prices double since February.
China acted to protect domestic fertilizer production amid a wider sulfur squeeze from the Strait of Hormuz disruption, Russia's extended export ban, Turkish restrictions and lower Democratic Republic of Congo volumes.
The report says sulfuric acid is critical for fertilizers and metals processing, and argues copper-producing countries should expand domestic sulfur management and processing to reduce dependence on Chinese supply.
As China’s export ban exposes a fatal supply chain flaw, is the ultimate solution already buried within our copper mines?
A chemical once treated as waste is crippling global industry. Who are the unexpected winners of this sulfuric acid crisis?
The 2026 Sulfuric Acid Crisis: China’s Export Ban and Middle East Supply Shock Disrupt 15% of Global Market
Overview
In 2026, a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted about one-third of global sulfur trade, causing sulfur prices to surge sharply. This shortage, combined with high domestic demand for sulfuric acid in China’s fertilizer industry, led China to ban sulfuric acid exports starting May 1. The ban and sulfur scarcity triggered a global sulfuric acid shortage, severely impacting Chile’s copper mining and straining fertilizer production worldwide. These disruptions threatened global food security and caused silver production to drop. In response, industries shifted toward self-sufficiency and resilience, driving higher operating costs and upward pressure on copper and food prices, while prompting a lasting structural shift toward diversified and localized supply chains.