Globally, over 200m tonnes of sulphuric acid are consumed on an annual basis. Most sulphuric acid is produced on purpose through sulphur burning for captive use by users including the phosphate fertilizer and base metal sectors. The product is also required in a wide variety of speciality and industrial products such as pulp, paper and batteries.
In addition to the burning of sulphur, sulphuric acid is produced as involuntary by-product through the smelting of base metals including copper, nickel and zinc. Smelters are prevalent in Europe, South Korea and Japan.
As with its sulphur counterpart, demand for sulphuric acid correlates strongly with global development. The need for new infrastructure and food for a growing population directly impacts the industry, as sulphuric acid is required in order to produce certain fertilizers for crops, as well as base metals used in construction.
Sulphuric acid is an important raw material for a wide variety of sectors and the outlook is for stable supply and demand conditions.