In 2023, China’s sulfuric acid imports from January to September were 237,900 tons, an increase of 13.04% over the same period last year. Among them, the largest import volume in January, the import volume of 58,000 tons; The main reason is that the domestic sulfuric acid price is relatively high compared to the import price in January, taking Shandong as an example, according to Longzhong information statistics in January Shandong 98% sulfuric acid factory average price of 121 yuan/ton; According to customs data, in January, the average price of imported sulfuric acid in Shandong was 12 US dollars/ton, and the cost of purchasing imported sulfuric acid was better for the downstream coast of Shandong. From January to September, the import volume in April was the lowest, with the import volume of 0.79 million tons; The main reason is that the price advantage of imported sulfuric acid is weakened by the overall decline in Chinese domestic acid prices. The difference between the monthly imports of sulfuric acid from January to September in 2023 is about 50,000 tons. In terms of average import price, customs data include high-end sulfuric acid products, the price is higher than industrial acid, and its monthly average peak appeared in April, with an average price of $105 / ton, which are mostly high-quality sulfuric acid products based on incoming processing. The lowest monthly average import price occurred in August, when the average price was $40 / ton.

China’s sulfuric acid imports in 2023 are relatively concentrated. According to customs data, from January to September 2023, China’s sulfuric acid imports mainly from South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, the first two accounted for 97.02%, of which 240,400 tons were imported from South Korea, accounting for 93.07%, an increase of 1.87% compared with last year; Imported 10,200 tons from Taiwan Province of China, accounting for 3.95%, down 4.84 from last year, imported 0.77 million tons from Japan, accounting for 2.98%, last year, Japan almost no sulfuric acid imports to China.

According to customs data, from January to September 2023, China’s sulfuric acid imports according to the registration place statistics, the top two Shandong Province and Jiangsu Province, accounting for 96.99%, an increase of 4.41% compared with last year. The main reason why Shandong and Jiangsu provinces are the main import areas is that they are close to Japan and South Korea, the source of imports, and the import sea freight is preferential and the transportation is convenient. According to customs data, from January to September 2023, the main trade mode of China’s sulfuric acid imports is general trade, importing 252,400 tons, accounting for 97.72%, an increase of 4.01% over last year. Followed by import processing trade, imports of 0.59 million tons, accounting for 2.28%, down 4.01% from last year.

In 2023, from January to September, China’s sulfuric acid exports were 1,621,700 tons, 47.55% less than the same period last year. Among them, the export volume in August was the largest, with an export volume of 219,400 tons; The main reason is the sluggish demand in the domestic sulfuric acid market in August, the inventory backlog in the early stage of the acid plant, and the new demand in the international market such as Indonesia. In order to ease inventory and domestic sales pressure, coastal acid plants passively increase exports under low international prices. From January to September, China’s sulfuric acid exports in March were at a minimum of 129,800 tons, down 74.9% from the same period last year. Mainly due to the domestic spring farming fertilizer season in March, the demand has increased, and the domestic sulfuric acid price can still maintain about 100 yuan, while the export price has fallen to the single digits, and the acid plant exports need to subsidize freight. Under the large price difference of sulfuric acid sales at home and abroad, the quantity of sulfuric acid export orders has plummeted. From January to September 2023, the monthly export volume of sulfuric acid is about 90,000 tons. In terms of the average import price, the customs data include the long-term orders signed at the beginning of the year, the price is slightly higher than the spot, and the monthly average peak appeared in February, with an average price of 25.4 US dollars/ton; The lowest monthly average import price was recorded in April at $8.50 / ton.

In 2023, China’s sulfuric acid export receiving places are scattered. According to customs data, from January to September 2023, China’s sulfuric acid exports are mainly shipped to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, India, Morocco and other smelting and fertilizer production and planting countries, the top three accounted for 67.55%, of which the most obvious change is that Indonesia benefited from the development of metal leaching industry, its exports 509,400 tons, accounting for 31.41%. Under the background of the overall decline of domestic sulfuric acid exports, its sulfuric acid imports increased by 387.93% compared with the same period last year; Exports to Morocco 178,300 tons, accounting for 10.99%, due to the downturn in international phosphate fertilizer demand in the first half of the year, resulting in a decline of 79.75% from the same period last year. According to customs data, from January to September 2023, the main trade mode of China’s sulfuric acid exports is general trade, with exports of 1,621,100 tons, accounting for 99.96%, less than 0.01% in 2022, and border small trade exports of 0.06,000 tons, accounting for 0.04%, an increase of 0.01% compared with 2022.

According to customs data, from January to September 2023, China’s sulfuric acid exports according to registration statistics, the top three are the export volume of 531,800 tons in Jiangsu Province, 418,400 tons in Guangxi Province, and 282,000 tons in Shanghai, respectively accounting for 32.79%, 25.80%, 17.39% of the total export volume of the country, a total of 75.98%. The main export enterprises are Jiangsu Double Lion, Guangxi Jinchuan, Shanghai traders to sell southeast Fujian copper industry and Shandong Hengbang sulfuric acid resources.