Global Industrial Sulfuric Acid Market to Experience Noteworthy Growth with the Increasing Use of Sulfuric Acid in the Industrial Sector

Protecting crops from insects is critical for agricultural productivity and food security. Insects can cause severe crop damage by eating plants, spreading illnesses, and diminishing total production. As a result, farmers use a variety of techniques to protect their crops from insect pests, reduce losses, and increase yields. This is where the industrial sulfuric acid solution comes in.

Sulfuric acid is a viscous, colorless liquid that dissolves in water at all concentrations. It is a strong acid that is produced by oxidizing sulphur dioxide solutions and is extensively used as an industrial and scientific reagent. Sulfuric acid is widely used because it has both direct and indirect uses in the production of numerous compounds, including fertilizers. The industrial sulfuric acid market is continuously evolving with new technologies and trends.

Recent Trends in the Industrial Sulfuric Acid Market

The implementation of environmental laws aimed at lowering pollutant emissions, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), has influenced the sulfuric acid business. These rules have promoted the use of technologies such as sulphur recovery units (SRUs) by companies to reduce emissions and enhance air quality. Additionally, various R&D efforts are being taken for making sulfuric acid production processes more efficient and environmentally friendly. Technologies such as the wet sulfuric acid (WSA) process and the double contact double absorption (DCDA) process have drawn attention for their capacity to save energy and reduce emissions.

Newest Insights in the Industrial Sulfuric Acid Market

As per a report by Research Dive, the global industrial sulfuric acid market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% and generate revenue of $9,576.5 million by 2031. The primary factors driving the growth of the market are the increasing development initiatives, like expanding businesses' production capacities to boost the production of sulfuric acid products from elemental sulphur, the rising application of sulfuric acid in the agriculture sector, the increasing number of research activities, and the growing investments in chemical synthesis R&D in China's chemical manufacturing industry. However, concerns about industrial sulfuric acid's safety are expected to hinder the market growth.

The industrial sulfuric acid market in Asia-Pacific is expected to remain dominant in the coming years. The region's high revenue in 2021 was driven by the expansion of infrastructure, industrialization, rising infrastructure costs, and government programs supporting environmentally friendly technologies. This has led to an increased demand for sulfuric acid, a vital component in many industrial operations.

How are Market Players Responding to the Rising Demand for Industrial Sulfuric Acid?

Market players are responding to the rising demand for industrial sulfuric acid by investing in research and development to create more efficient and sustainable methods of sulfuric acid production. They are also expanding their production capacities to satisfy the rising demand.

In addition, market players are increasingly focusing on strategic partnerships and collaborations with other players in the industry to leverage their strengths and expand their reach. Some of the foremost players in the industrial sulfuric acid market are BASF SE, OCP Group, The Mosaic Company, Nouryon, DuPont, Agrium Inc., INEOS, PVS Chemical Solution, AkzoNobel N.V., Khaitan Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd., and others. These players are focused on implementing strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, novel developments, collaborations, and partnerships to reach a leading position in the industrial sulfuric acid global market. 

For instance:

• In May 2018, BASF, a European multinational corporation which is the world's largest producer of chemicals, launched production at a brand-new electronic-grade sulfuric acid (H2SO4) plant in Jiaxing, China, to supply the nation's expanding chip manufacturing sector.
   
• In June 2019, Gov. John Bel Edwards, an American politician, CEO Bill DiCroce, and Veolia North America President, announced that the business would enlarge its regeneration facility in Darrow, Louisiana. The Veolia plant, also known as the Burnside facility, transforms used sulfuric acid into new, commercial-grade sulfuric acid and creates sulfur-based products for use by the refining industry and other sectors.
   
• In October 2022, Klabin, a Brazilian paper company that manufactures, exports, and recycles paper, successfully launched a sulfuric acid plant at its Ortigueira/PR factory in Brazil, supplied by AndRITZ. The plant, which is the largest in the world, can generate 150 metric tonnes of industrial-grade sulfuric acid daily from concentrated elemental sulfur and odorous gases.

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Industrial Sulfuric Acid Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on the global industrial sulfuric acid market. The outbreak reduced the demand for numerous goods and services, interrupted global supply lines, and reduced industrial production, all of which had a detrimental influence on economic development. The need for sulfuric acid was also dropped in critical industries such as oil and gas, mining, and industrial manufacturing. The implementation of lockdowns and decreasing consumer demand forced many industries to cut production, lowering the need for sulfuric acid. In addition, the pandemic hampered the supply of chemicals and raw materials essential for manufacturing sulfuric acid, driving up costs and delaying production. Furthermore, the pandemic resulted in reduced staff availability owing to illness, quarantine regulations, and other limitations, which had an influence on the productivity and efficiency of sulfuric acid production. These factors significantly hindered industrial sulfuric acid market growth amidst the pandemic.