Sulfuric Acid Market (By Raw Material: Base metal smelters, Elemental Sulfur, Pyrite Ore, Others; By Form: Concentrated, Tower/Glover acid, Chamber/ Fertilizer acid, Battery acid, 66 Degree Baume Sulfuric Acid, Dilute Sulfuric Acid; By Manufacturing Process: Contact process, Lead chamber process, Wet sulfuric acid process, Metabisulfite process, Others; By Distribution Channel; By Applications; By Purity Type) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2023-2032

The global sulfuric acid market size was estimated at USD 14.27 billion in 2023 and is expanding to around USD 28.3 billion by 2032 with an increasing CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032. The global consumption of sulfuric acid has accounted for 36 - 40% of the overall acids market.

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Key Takeaways

• Asia Pacific led the global market with the highest market share of 46% in 2022.
• By Raw Material, the elemental sulfur segment has held the largest market share in 2022.
• By Application, the fertilizers segment captured the biggest revenue share in 2022.
• By Distribution Channel, the offline segment generated over 60% of revenue share in 2022.

Sulfuric Acid Market in the Asia Pacific 2023 To 2032

The Asia Pacific sulfuric acid market size was valued at USD 6.55 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 12.78 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.70% from 2023 to 2032.

Sulfuric acid market with increased demand and development across various regions. Asia Pacific region with increased market share with increased developments in increased utilization of sulfuric acid in various industries widely accepted by the industrial sector by the farmers for increasing the growth of the crops using fertilizers for increasing the productivity of the crops and fulfilling the needs of the consumers. Also contributes for rising the sulfuric acid usage which createss less pollution than other raw materials.

Sulfuric Acid Market Share, By Region, 2022 (%)

Sulfuric Acid Market Overview 

The rapid utilization of sulfuric acid in fertilizers, chemical industries, the automobile industry, and many more drives the market of sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is basically known as vitriol it contains components such as sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen. Sulfuric acid molecular formula id H2SO4. Sulfuric acid is colorless, odorless, and viscous in nature it is miscible with water and soluble. Sulfuric acid pure is not available in nature because sulfuric acid is attracted to the water vapors. Being hygroscopic in nature, and absorption of water from the air. Increased corrosion of sulfuric acid towards some of the materials such as rock to metal.

One of the major properties of sulfuric acid is its dehydrating nature. Mixing water with sulfuric acid the gas fumes are released with the bubbles. Sulfuric acid is hazardous and can be harmful in contact with the body and may cause burns. Dilute sulfuric acid is comparatively less hazardous, having dehydrating properties. Production of sulfuric acid is done by various processes with increased utilization. Sulfuric acid is basically the raw material used during the processing or manufacturing or production the new chemical synthesis, drugs, and fertilizers. Sulfuric acid contains nutrients such as phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen which are the main components for increasing the crops with improved quality.

Impact of Covid-19 on the sulfuric acid market with increased rules and regulations imposed by the government due to widespread of coronavirus across the region. This led to the lockdown in many regions which halt the growth, due to the shutdown of the industries, and ceased transportation which decreased the market size of sulfuric acid. Post pandemic situation of the sulfuric acid market extended the market growth with increased demands from the agriculture sector during the forecast period.

Sulfuric Acid Market Scope

Growth Factors

• The rapid acceptance of sulfuric acid for fertilizers with improving the yield of the crops with enhanced the quality and quantity of the produced crops.
• Increased urbanization with increased research and development with sulfuric acid and growing industrialization drive the growth of the market.
• Increased demands for the crops with improved quality with increased nutrients in the vegetable and fulfilling the demands of the consumers, increasing the product in agricultures using fertilizers.
• The rapid acceptance of electric vehicles across the regions and the development of the automobile industry with increased demands from customers expanded the sulfuric acid market growth.

Utilization of sulfuric acid in chemical industries for increasing the synthesis of the chemical and producing and developing new drugs in the pharmaceutical industries with increased production and manufacturing of the medications. Enhanced utilization in the automobile industry is majorly utilized in batteries which helps to store the energy which fuels the market of sulfuric acid with increased usage of sulfuric acid.

Increased research and development in chemical synthesis and increased usage of fertilizers with increasing the output with increased performance of sulfuric acid drive the market to enhance during the forecast period. The key market players involved sulfuric acid which supports to increase in the development of sulfuric acid and increased investment for introducing new fertilizers and chemicals boosts the market development of sulfuric acid to a larger extent.

Sulfuric Acid Market Dynamics

Key Market Drivers

• Requirements for fertilizers utilized in the agriculture sector - Increased demands from the agriculture group with adapting the sulfuric acid for increasing the productivity of the crops with increased quality of the crops and the necessary nutrients such as phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen. Using fertilizers for producing the crops and fulfilling the needs, fertilizer are chemicals which is mixed with soil and helps to grow the crops with enhanced productivity. 
• Requirements sulfuric acid in chemical industry - Wide utilization of sulfuric acid in chemical industries with increased demands from the industries. Sulfuric acid is a raw material used as a processor in producing and manufacturing the new chemical synthesis or producing the drug. Manufacturing of different chemicals with new developments with increased demands from the consumers enhanced the market growth during the forecast period. Increased demands for the nitric acid, sulphate salts, detergents, dyes, pigments, hydrochloric acid, explosives and other drugs.
• Requirement of sulfuric acid in automobile industry- Enhance demand from the automobile industry due to increased utilization of sulfuric acid in batteries which helps for storing the energy in to the battery. With increasing number of electric vehicles and increased demands for the sulfuric acid from the automobile industry.
• Utilization of sulfuric acid in various sectors- Utilization of sulfuric acid in different industries such as metal industry, automobile industry, agriculture industry used as fertilizers and others. Sulfuric acid is majorly utilized as cleaning agent in metal industry, removal of corrosion helps to increase the market of sulfuric acid market.

Key Market Challenges 

• Increased Cost - Sulfuric acid with increased demands from the consumers as the fertilizer for increasing the yield of the crop with increased rules and regulations imposed regarding the handling of the sulfuric acid with the hazardous to the body. Continuously increasing the rates of the sulfuric acid. Which may hamper the market growth of sulfuric acid during the forecast period.
• Lack of skill - Lack of skill among the people regarding the utilization and handling of the sulfuric acid with the concentrated sulfuric acid with extreme hazardous in nature. Lack of skill may lead to decrease in the market growth of sulfuric acid.
• Availability of other chemicals for processing the product and manufacturing and producing of the products in chemical industry or other industries with adapting new chemicals can challenge the market growth of sulfuric acid.

Key Market Opportunities

• Utilization of sulfuric acid in treatment of waste water - Sulfuric acid plays a major role in waste water treatment. It is the process developed with increased concern of environmental issues. Sulfuric acid chemical balances the pH level and normalize the chemical by adjusting with the sulfuric acid and producing neutral chemical. Wastewater treatment such as prevention of odour of water, helps to destroy the bacteria in water which may cause several disorders. Separation of the water and waste solid material which is sludge using sulfuric acid.

Raw Material Insight

Raw materials elemental sulfur to gain the largest market in sulfuric acid with the increased utilization of sulfur in producing sulfuric acid having less pollution characteristics than that of pyrite ores, oil and petroleum refining industries and base metal smelters. Increased rapid adoption of the sulfuric acid in various sectors drives the market growth of sulfuric acid. Elemental sulfuric acid to be the processing material involved in chemical synthesis wide characteristics of sulfuric acid with increased production of drugs in pharmaceutical industries boost the market development.

Application Insight

Utilization of sulfuric acid in producing fertilizers for yielding the crops with increased quality and quantity of the crops using fertilizers with improved nutrients. Increasing demands for the fertilizers drives the growth of the sulfuric acid market with increased production of the crops required for daily life. Fulfilling the needs of the consumers with enhance growth of the crops lack of fertilizers in the field may not give the required productivity.

Mixing of the fertilizers with the soil which empowers the soil with increased nutrients in the soil with high efficacy and continuous research and development of fertilizers with increased demands from the farmer that is agriculture sector enhanced the market of sulfuric acid with wide applications in various sector. In chemical industry also with significant rise of the market with improved chemical synthesis and drug development.

Distribution Channel Insight

On the basis of distribution channel, offline category with increased market share with increased transportation of bulk due to increased demands from the consumers with increased rules and regulation regarding handling of the sulfuric acid being hygroscopic and exothermic in nature.

Recent Developments

• In the year 2019 June, In Loisiana introduction of sulfuric acid with improved quality conversion of sulfuric acid in to the commercial sulfuric acid from the Veolia company. Increased production of the products which are based on sulfuric acid. Utilization in refining and cleaning agent in metals. Enhanced regeneration of sulfuric acid with increased out put.
• In the year 2021 November, Coromandel International Limited introduction of new plant of developed sulfuric acid in the fertilization sector.
• In the year 2021 August, Sumitomo Chemical Corporation introduced the sulfuric acid with increased production and increased purity of sulfuric acid with increased requirement from semiconductor and automobile industry.

Sulfuric Acid Market Companies

• UBE Industries, Ltd
• Boliden Group
• Trident Group
• Tata Chemicals
• Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corporation
• Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd
• Canada Colors and chemicals Limited
• Maaden - Saudi Arabian Mining Company
• Nouryon 
• Cornerstone Chemical Company
• Linde Group
• Qingdao Hisea Chem Co.Ltd
• KMG Chemicals
• Seastar Chemicals
• PVS Chemicals Inc.
• Avantor Performance Materials, LLC
• Aurubis
• Knato Corporation
• Ineos Group Ltd
• BASF SE
• Mosaic
• Yunnan Copper Co.Ltd
• Jiangxi Copper Group Co.Ltd
• Honeywell
• Dupont
• Cytec Industries
• Chevron
• Akzo Nobel
• Bayer

Segments Covered in the Report

By Raw Material

• Base metal smelters
• Elemental Sulfur
• Pyrite Ore
• Others

By Form

• Concentrated
• Tower/Glover acid
• Chamber/ Fertilizer acid
• Battery acid
• 66 Degree Baume Sulfuric Acid
• Dilute Sulfuric Acid

By Manufacturing Process

• Contact process
• Lead chamber process
• Wet sulfuric acid process
• Metabisulfite process
• Others

By Distribution Channel 

• Online
• Offline

By Applications

• Fertilizers
• Chemical industries
• Petroleum refining
• Metal processing- Steel picking, Copper production, Metals surface cleaning, others
• Automotive
• Textile
• Drug manufacturing
• Pulp & paper
• Industrial
• Semiconductor Electronics- Battery Electrolyte, Integrated circuit components, fabrication, photovoltaic cells.
• Domestic cleaning products
• Wastewater treatment
• Others

By Purity Type

• Standard 
• Ultra-pure

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)