In the closing two weeks of October 2025, Sulphuric Acid demand in China hike by avg 8.90%. This elevation in Sulphuric Acid price was driven by acute supply tightness as elemental sulphur intakes remained capped and feedstock price volatility had propelled smelter and sulphur-burning unit costs. Producer and trader inventories fell to disturbing low levels by the middle of the month and fell still further on 28 October, as converters scrambled for pre-Golden Week material, while solid offtake came from both phosphate fertiliser (DAP/MAP), battery-material and non-ferrous metallurgy sectors on 30 October—which was able to soak up every tonne available to help alleviate low room in stocks across all offtake even considering margin compression downstream.
The increase in Sulphuric Acid prices was entirely caused by supply-side constraints as well as cost pressures. Beginning in mid-October, elemental sulphur, which is the main Sulphuric Acid raw material, was still in short supply, with spot prices being "fluctuating at multi-week highs" from the October 20th. This led to significant increases in production costs for smelter based (Sulfur gas from copper/nickel by-products) and sulphur burning plants at the time. At the same time, logistical constraints at eastern China ports, combined with soaring electrical tariffs and thermal coal prices, pushed operational expenditure (OPEX) for producers to uncomfortable levels.
The situation intensified on October 28th when plant level stockpiles of sulphur were depleted at a faster rate as downstream converts rapidly secured material ahead of holiday shut down, leading to an even tighter balance in the Sulphuric Acid supply and demand. Two days later, on October 30th, buying continued with strong demand from key end-use sectors, including phosphate based fertilisers (DAP/MAP), battery materials and non-ferrous metallurgy, quickly absorbing all the tonnes of material available to lock in a rising market. Notably, phosphate producers continued strong daily purchasing have been faced with major margin compression and lowering global fertiliser demand, to continue un-interrupted run rates of their plants.
As per the ChemAnalyst anticipation Sulphuric Acid prices is expected to showcase bullishness in the upcoming session. This fluctuation in Sulphuric Acid price is majorly linked with the demand in China may remain firm through the first week of November 2025, as the high cost of sulphuric acid feed, low producer inventories and holiday-related transportation challenges outweigh an uninspiring new-project pipeline and profit decimation for downstream fertilizer and metals producers. If elemental sulphur quotations remain above recent highs, any post-holiday stocking-up could push Sulphuric Acid prices.
