The molecular formula for sulfuric acid is ‘H2SO4. It is categorized as a strong mineral acid with high corrosive abilities. Sulfuric acid is a viscous liquid that is soluble in water and its color varies from yellow to colorless, which depends upon its concentration. Sulfuric acid is used in the manufacture of commercially important chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfate salts, synthetic detergents, dyes, pigments, explosives, and drugs.
Sulfuric acid is used in the production of phosphate fertilizers such as monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, calcium dihyrogen phosphate, and others. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global demand for phosphate fertilizers in 2017 was 43.2 million tons. The FAO estimated that this demand will increase to 45.8 million tons by 2020. Thus, rising demand for phosphate fertilizers is expected to drive growth of the global sulfuric acid market.
However, stringent government regulations on usage of sulfuric acid, owing to hazardous effects of the strong acidic mixture are expected to restrain growth of the global sulfuric acid market. For instance, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has categorized the acid as a carcinogen. These stringent regulations are expected to hinder growth of the market over the forecast period.
The global sulfuric acid market was pegged at 266.2 million tons in 2018 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2.3% in terms of volume over the forecast period (2019 – 2027), and is expected to reach 324.1 million tons by 2027.
Figure 1. Global Sulfuric Acid Market Share (%), By Region, 2017
Source: Coherent Market Insights, 2017-18
North America held a significant market share in the global sulfuric acid market in 2018. This is attributed to growing demand for sulfuric acid in the production of fertilizers, which is expected to drive growth of the sulfuric acid market in North America. For instance, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, phosphate fertilizer consumption in the U.S. in 2012 was 40 million tons, which increased to 42.5 million tons in 2016. Increasing consumption of phosphate fertilizers is leading to high demand for sulfuric acid in this region. Moreover, Central & South America is expected to witness a steady growth in the market share owing to rapid industrialization in the region.
Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth owing to growth of various end-use industries such as chemical, agriculture and textile industry in emerging economies such as China and India. Sulfuric acid is used in hydrometallurgical processes to leach ores and extract metals. Countries such as South Korea and Japan have a large number of metal smelters, which is expected to contribute towards the market growth in the near future.
Figure 2. Global Sulfuric Acid Market Share (%), By Raw Material Type, 2017
Source: Coherent Market Insights, 2017-18
Among raw material type, elemental sulfur segment held highest market share of 59% in 2017 in the global sulfuric acid market, and this segment is expected to retain its dominant position over the forecast period. Sulfuric acid is produced by combustion of elemental sulfur. Thus, increasing demand for elemental sulfur for fertilizers is expected to drive growth of this segment in the global sulfuric acid market.
Among application, fertilizers segment held the highest market share in 2017 in the global sulfuric acid market. Sulfuric acid is used in the production of fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate. Sulfuric acid is used as an important compound in the production of phosphoric acid, which is further converted to phosphate fertilizers. Phosphate fertilizers are commonly used for increasing agricultural productivity.
Key players are adopting new strategies such as business expansions, in order to strengthen their position in the sulfuric acid market. For instance, in 2018, BASF SE started its operation at an electronic grade sulfuric acid plant in China to meet the growing demand from the semiconductors industry. In 2017, the Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. acquired Bayer's ‘Bayqik quasi-isothermal sulfuric acid converter technology’ to strengthen its position in the global sulfuric acid market.
Major players in the global sulfuric acid market include PVS Chemicals, BASF SE, Akzo Nobel N.V., DowDuPont Inc., Unigel Group, Boliden Group, Ineos Enterprises Limited, Trident Chemicals, Aurubis AG, Climax Molybdenum B.V., and Amal Ltd.
Sulfuric acid is a viscous liquid that is soluble in water, and its color varies from yellow to colorless, depending upon the concentration. Its strong acidic nature allows it to corrode living tissues and metal surfaces. It is mostly used for the application such as fertilizers, automotive batteries, water treatment, paper bleaching.
Sulfuric acid finds various applications across a broad spectrum of industries, and its single largest application is in the production of fertilizers. Key players in the market are adopting various business strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to expand their global footprint. For instance, in 2016, Fanchem Ltd., a subsidiary of PVS Chemicals, Inc., acquired Benson Chemicals Limited based in Canada. This will help Fanchem to expand its presence in Canada.
However, stringent government regulations on usage of sulfuric acid, owing to hazardous effects of the strong acidic mixture are expected to restrain growth of the global market.
Market Dynamics
Among application, fertilizers segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the market over the forecast period, owing to increasing crop production to cater to increasing demand for food. For instance, according to the International Fertilizer Industry Association, global fertilizer demand was pegged at 186 million metric tons in 2016 and is expected to reach at 199 million metric tons by 2021.
Among regions, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the market over the forecast period, owing to increasing demand for the sulfuric acid for various application such as chemical manufacturing, paper and pulp, fertilizers in emerging economies such as India and China. Key players are adopting various strategies such as business expansion to cater to increasing demand for sulfuric acid. For instance, in May 2018, BASF started its new electronic grade sulfuric acid plant in China. Electronic grade sulfuric acid finds application for manufacturing semiconductors. The new plant is expected to meet growing demand of sulfuric acid from the semiconductor industry in China.
Key features of the study:
- This report provides in-depth analysis of sulfuric acid market and provides market size in terms of value (US$ Billion) and volume (Million tons) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR%) for the forecast period (2019 – 2027), considering 2018 as the base year
- It elucidates potential revenue opportunity across different segments and explains attractive investment proposition matrix for this market
- This study also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvalS, regional outlook, and competitive strategies adopted by key players
- It profiles key players in the global sulfuric acid market based on the following parameters – company overview, financial performance, product portfolio, geographical presence, distribution strategies, key developments and strategies, and future plans
- Key companies covered as a part of this study includes PVS Chemicals, BASF SE, Akzo Nobel N.V., DowDuPont Inc., Unigel Group, Boliden Group, Ineos Enterprises Limited, Trident Chemicals, Aurubis AG, Climax Molybdenum BV, and Amal Ltd.
- Insights from this report would allow marketers and management authorities of the companies to make informed decisions regarding future product launches, technology upgradation, market expansion, and marketing tactics
- The global sulfuric acid market report caters to various stakeholders in this industry including investors, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, new entrants, and financial analysts
- Stakeholders would have ease in decision-making through various strategy matrices used in analyzing the sulfuric acid market
Detailed Segmentation:
- Global Sulfuric Acid Market, By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- Global Sulfuric Acid Market, By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- Global Sulfuric Acid Market, By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Global Sulfuric Acid Market, By Region:
- North America
- U.S.
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Canada
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Europe
- U.K.
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Germany
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Italy
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- France
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Russia
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Rest of Europe
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Asia Pacific
- China
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- India
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Japan
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- ASEAN
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Australia
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- South Korea
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Latin America
- Brazil
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Mexico
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Rest of Latin America
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Middle East
- GCC
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Israel
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Rest of Middle East
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Africa
- North Africa
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Central Africa
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- South Africa
- By Raw Material Type:
- Pyrite Ore
- Elemental Sulfur
- Base Metal Smelters
- Others
- By Application:
- Fertilizers
- Pulp & Paper
- Textiles
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Metal Processing
- Automotive Battery Acid
- Petroleum Refining
- Others
- By Manufacturing Process:
- Single Contact Process
- Wet Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
- Others
- Company Profiles
- PVS Chemicals*
- Company Overview
- Product Portfolio
- Financial Performance
- Key Strategies
- Recent Developments
- Future Plans
- BASF SE
- Akzo Nobel N.V.
- DowDuPont Inc.
- Unigel S.A.
- Boliden Group
- Ineos Enterprises Limited
- Trident Chemicals
- Aurubis AG
- Climax Molybdenum B.V.
- Amal Ltd.
“*” marked represents similar segmentation in other categories in the respective section.
