Sulfuric Acid Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Market Overview

Chile held the priciest sulfuric acid of the markets we track through the first half of the year 2026 (H1 2026). Q2 closed at a value of USD 325/MT against Q1's USD 280/MT, up 16.1%. Copper-leaching demand kept climbing, as miners processed lower-grade ore requiring more acid per unit of metal. Tight global sulfur feedstock supply added further pressure on top of that. The global average moved from the USD 235/MT to a value of USD 275/MT, a gain of just a 17.0% percent. For the second half of 2026 (H2 2026), a range of an amount of USD 270 to 320/MT looks likely worldwide. Continued sulfur feedstock tightness and strong metal-leaching demand are what's holding it up.

Sulfuric acid is made either through the contact process, burning the elemental sulfur to sulfur dioxide, catalytically oxidizing it to sulfur trioxide, and absorbing it in water, or as a byproduct captured from the copper, zinc, and nickel smelting off-gas. Phosphate fertilizer production is the single largest downstream use, consuming vast volumes to convert the phosphate rock into phosphoric acid. Metal leaching is the fastest-growing use. Copper miners increasingly process lower-grade ores that require proportionally more acid, and nickel producers in Southeast Asia are expanding the laterite-ore processing too. Titanium dioxide production and general industrial and chemical manufacturing round out the demand.

Three main factors shape where the price goes.

• Elemental sulfur feedstock availability.
• Smelter byproduct output, which falls when treatment charges turn negative and smelters cut runs.
• The pace of copper and nickel leaching demand.

Sulfuric Acid Price Forecast for 2026

The second half of 2026 (H2 2026) opened with the same forces still firmly in place. Reduced sulfur exports from Central Asia and steep shipping and insurance costs near key export routes kept the feedstock tight. Copper miners in Chile kept processing lower-grade ore that needs more acid per tonne of metal. Morocco's enormous phosphate-fertilizer complex kept consuming nearly all the acid it could source too. Smelters everywhere leaned harder on the acid byproduct revenue to offset the weak treatment charges, but reduced smelting throughput still left the market undersupplied.

A couple of factors bear watching. Further sulfur export disruptions, or an even sharper acceleration in the copper and nickel leaching demand, could push the prices past the top of the range. A resolution of the shipping-route tensions, or a rebound in the smelter byproduct output, could pull the market below the floor instead.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Sulfuric Acid Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 205/MT
• United States: USD 300/MT
• Morocco: USD 265/MT
• Chile: USD 325/MT

Sulfuric Acid Prices in China

China's sulfuric acid market extended its sharp climb through Q2. The tight sulfur feedstock and firm phosphate-fertilizer demand both added pressure there. The gain came to a value of 17.1%, from USD 175/MT to USD 205/MT.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q2 2026 in China?

• Sulfur feedstock availability stayed tight through the quarter.
• Phosphate-fertilizer production demand held firm.
• Quarter closed at USD 205/MT, still the most affordable of the four markets.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in the United States

The US sulfuric acid surged by 17.6% to a value of USD 300/MT. The reduced smelter byproduct output and steady industrial demand both tightened the supply.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q2 2026 in United States?

• Reduced smelter byproduct output tightened domestic supply.
• Industrial and fertilizer-linked demand stayed steady.
• Quarter closed at USD 300/MT.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Morocco

Morocco climbed by 15.2% to a value of USD 265/MT. Its enormous phosphate-fertilizer complex kept consuming nearly all the acid it could source.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q2 2026 in Morocco?

• The phosphate-fertilizer complex kept consuming nearly all available acid.
• Sulfur feedstock costs firmed alongside the broader market.
• Quarter closed at USD 265/MT.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Chile

Chile posted the highest price of any market, up by 16.1% to a value of USD 325/MT. The copper miners kept processing lower-grade ore requiring more acid per tonne of metal produced.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q2 2026 in Chile?

• Copper miners kept processing lower-grade ore requiring more acid per tonne.
• Import dependency added further cost pressure.
• Quarter closed at USD 325/MT.

For the Quarter Ending March 2026

Sulfuric Acid Prices Q1 2026:

• China: USD 175/MT
• United States: USD 255/MT
• Morocco: USD 230/MT
• Chile: USD 280/MT

Sulfuric Acid Prices in China

China surged by 20.7% to a value of USD 175/MT in Q1. The reduced sulfur exports from Central Asia and steep shipping costs near key routes tightened the feedstock sharply.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q1 2026 in China?

• Reduced sulfur exports from Central Asia tightened feedstock sharply.
• Steep shipping and insurance costs near key export routes added further pressure.
• Quarter closed at USD 175/MT.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in the United States

The US sulfuric acid jumped by 18.6% to a value of USD 255/MT. The smelter byproduct output fell, as negative treatment charges pushed some smelters to cut runs.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q1 2026 in United States?

• Negative copper-concentrate treatment charges pushed some smelters to cut runs.
• Byproduct acid output fell as a result.
• Quarter closed at USD 255/MT.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Morocco

Morocco climbed by 17.9% to a value of USD 230/MT. The phosphate-fertilizer sector's acid demand accelerated alongside the tighter global feedstock.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q1 2026 in Morocco?

• Phosphate-fertilizer sector demand accelerated.
• Global sulfur feedstock tightness pushed costs higher.
• Quarter closed at USD 230/MT.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Chile

Chile jumped by 16.7% to a value of USD 280/MT. The copper-leaching demand accelerated as miners processed increasingly lower-grade ore.

Why did the price of Sulfuric Acid change in Q1 2026 in Chile?

• Copper-leaching demand accelerated on lower ore grades.
• Import dependency added further cost pressure.
• Quarter closed at USD 280/MT.

Quarterly Sulfuric Acid Price Trends

Few commodities moved as dramatically as sulfuric acid over this window. The global average more than doubled, from the USD 135/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 275/MT by Q2 2026, a net gain of about 103.7 percent. The climb accelerated through every single quarter. Reduced sulfur exports from Central Asia and heightened geopolitical shipping risk drove it first, then falling smelter byproduct output and relentlessly growing copper and nickel leaching demand reinforced it.

What was Sulfuric Acid Price in 2025?

The year 2025 was a dramatic year for sulfuric acid across every market we track. The global average opened near a value of USD 135/MT in Q1 and climbed in every single quarter to close Q4 at USD 200/MT, a full-year gain of 48.1 percent. China rose the most in percentage terms, up 52.6 percent, from an especially low starting base. The United States gained 43.3 percent, while Morocco and Chile both gained 50.0 percent. All moved on the same combination of tightening sulfur feedstock, falling smelter byproduct output, and accelerating metal-leaching and phosphate-fertilizer demand.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in China in 2025

China opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 95/MT and closed the year at USD 145/MT, a gain of 52.6 percent, the steepest in percentage terms among the four markets, though it started and finished as the most affordable. Tightening sulfur feedstock and firm phosphate-fertilizer demand pushed the market higher in every quarter. The net direction for the year was dramatically higher, with the feedstock tightness as the dominant driver.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in the United States in 2025

The United States opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 150/MT and closed at USD 215/MT, a gain of 43.3 percent, the mildest in percentage terms though a substantial move in its own right. The falling smelter byproduct output tightened the domestic supply throughout the year, as negative copper-concentrate treatment charges pushed some smelters to cut runs. The net direction for the year was sharply higher, with the falling byproduct supply as the main driver.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Morocco in 2025

Morocco opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 130/MT and closed at USD 195/MT, a gain of 50.0 percent. The country's enormous phosphate-fertilizer complex kept consuming nearly all the acid it could source. Tightening global sulfur feedstock pushed the costs higher in every quarter too. The net direction for the year was sharply higher, with the phosphate-fertilizer demand as the dominant driver.

Sulfuric Acid Prices in Chile in 2025

Chile opened the year 2025 at a value of USD 160/MT and closed at USD 240/MT, a gain of 50.0 percent, carrying the highest absolute price throughout. Copper miners processed increasingly lower-grade ore requiring more acid per tonne of metal produced. Import dependency added further cost pressure across the year too. The net direction for the year was sharply higher, with the copper-leaching demand as the dominant driver.

How We Can Help

Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Sulfuric Acid Price Intelligence

Expert Market Research keeps a continuous watch on the sulfuric acid pricing across every major producing and consuming region. A price alone says very little. Our analysts dig into what actually drives it: the elemental sulfur feedstock availability, smelter byproduct output, and the pace of copper and nickel leaching and phosphate-fertilizer demand. The forecasts draw on the feedstock trends, the capacity utilization, and the trade-flow shifts across all four reporting regions. Contact Expert Market Research today for the sulfuric acid pricing data, a bespoke market analysis, and a strategic procurement advisory.