Sulfuric Acid Price Trend Analysis 2026: Price Drivers, Market Insights, Historical Prices, Supply Demand Analysis & Latest News

• Sulfuric acid prices moved upward globally in Q1’26, supported by tight raw material supply and rising cost pressure across major producing regions.
• Feedstock sulfur remained the main driver, with supply disruptions and higher procurement costs pushing production expenses upward.
• Downstream demand stayed firm due to fertilizer production and industrial consumption, sustaining market strength despite regional imbalances.

Asia

In Asia, sulfuric acid prices increased sharply during Q1’26 due to strong cost pressure and supply-side disruptions. In China, the prices were around ~0.93 RMB/kg (Spot FD) in January and ~1.28 RMB/kg in March, reflecting an increase of ~38.80%. The prices increased by ~29.13% from the previous quarter. Prices rose steadily in the early days of the quarter as sulfur prices remained high, supported by tight availability and elevated transportation costs, while low plant inventories and maintenance shutdowns limited supply. Demand for phosphate fertilizers during the spring planting season remained firm, which kept offtake active. In March, geopolitical tensions and shipping disruption through the Strait of Hormuz affected sulfur imports, with China relying heavily on imported sulfur and more than half of that supply linked to the Middle East. The disruption tightened logistics, reduced supply security, and increased raw material costs, which directly lifted sulfuric acid prices. In India, sulfuric acid prices were around 21.34 INR/kg (CIF, 98%) in January and around 31.66 INR/kg in March, showing an increase of around 45.53%. The prices increased by ~19.15% the previous quarter. The prices increased by ~35.06% from the previous quarter. The industry suffered from a lack of supply, owing to the interruptions in the refining process of crude oil and also sulfur. With increasing dependency on the use of petroleum-based sulfur, there was a shortage of supply.

Europe

The price of sulfuric acid in Europe showed relative stability but was not immune to cost pressures. In the UK, the price stood at approximately 0.24 GBP per kilogram (50%, CIF Felixstowe) in January and approximately 0.25 GBP per kilogram in March, an increase of ~0.88%. The prices increased by ~0.70% from the previous quarter. Although there was an increase in price, the market in Europe was relatively stable compared to the Asian market, where there were more drastic changes in supply. Nonetheless, the increase in the cost of sulfur and energy sources continued to affect production efficiency. Prices for imports were also vulnerable to freight rates and supply risks worldwide.

North America

The sulfuric acid price curve in the North American markets followed the trend witnessed in the Asian region, supported by higher costs of sulfur as well as logistical challenges globally. Being heavily reliant on the petroleum refining sector and its supply chains made the product harder to acquire. Demand driven by fertilizers and other industries still remained stable; however, the buyers adopted a cautious approach to mitigate these highly turbulent trade times.