01 Import/Export Data Overview
According to China Customs data compiled by Longzhong Information, China’s sulfuric acid imports in January 2026 reached 17,200 tonnes, with an import value of USD 2.3517 million and an average price of USD 136.83/tonne. In February 2026, imports totaled 9,400 tonnes, valued at USD 1.5445 million, with an average price of USD 165/tonne. For January–February, cumulative imports reached 26,500 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 60.89%. The cumulative import value was USD 3.8959 million, up 109.77% year-on-year, with an average price of USD 146.76/tonne.
02 Net Export
In February 2026, China’s net export of sulfuric acid was 133,100 tonnes, a year-on-year decrease of 47.81% and a month-on-month decline of 40.92 percentage points, indicating a significant contraction in the overall market. Due to high sulfur prices and low operating rates at sulfur-burning acid plants supporting downstream phosphate fertilizer production, domestic sulfuric acid prices remained above export prices. Combined with domestic supply guarantee policies, export volumes continued to shrink.
03 Import/Export Structure
By Source: South Korea is China’s largest source of sulfuric acid imports, with a dominant position. In January, imports from South Korea reached 16,600 tonnes, accounting for 96.8% of total monthly imports; in February, 8,600 tonnes, accounting for 92.3%. For January–February combined, imports from South Korea accounted for 95.1% of total imports, with prices ranging from USD 108–113/tonne, representing low-cost bulk sulfuric acid. Taiwan, China, is the second-largest source, though with much smaller volumes. Imports from Taiwan, China, totaled 600 tonnes in January and 700 tonnes in February, accounting for 4.8% of total imports. Notably, the average price of sulfuric acid from Taiwan, China, is significantly higher—USD 956/tonne in January and USD 768/tonne in February—approximately 6–8 times the average price from South Korea. This represents high-end electronic-grade or fine chemical acid, which is difficult to substitute and is primarily used in high-end industries such as semiconductors and precision manufacturing. Other sources account for less than 0.1% combined.
By Destination Province: Imports are highly concentrated in Shandong Province, which serves as the core region for China’s sulfuric acid imports. In January, Shandong imported 9,500 tonnes, accounting for 55.3% of total monthly imports; in February, 8,400 tonnes, accounting for 89.8%. For January–February combined, Shandong accounted for 94.5% of total imports, all sourced from South Korea at average prices between USD 101–107/tonne, representing typical low-cost bulk sulfuric acid imports. Other regions together account for only 5.5% of imports, primarily receiving high-end sulfuric acid from Taiwan, China, which flows to areas with relatively concentrated electronics and semiconductor industries. In summary, China’s sulfuric acid import pattern is characterized by a dominant “South Korea–Shandong” trade corridor, supplemented by small volumes of high-end sulfuric acid.
Post time: Apr-07-2026
