China curbs sulfuric acid exports
Reports say China plans to halt sulfuric‑acid exports next month, a move that has pushed aluminium prices higher and raised supply risks for semiconductor materials like bromine and helium in South Korea. The measure highlights that upstream chemicals and feedstocks, not just chips, can become chokepoints for electronics and industrial supply chains. (en.sedaily.com)
China has signaled it will halt sulfuric acid exports from May, tightening supply for metals and fertilizer producers already hit by Middle East disruptions. (bloomberg.com) Bloomberg reported on April 10 that some Chinese producers had received notices about the change and that one large buyer had been told by its supplier. The report said the restriction covers sulfuric acid made as a byproduct of copper and zinc smelting. (bloomberg.com) Sulfuric acid is a basic industrial chemical used in copper processing, phosphate fertilizer and chipmaking chemicals. Bloomberg said China is trying to conserve supply during the peak crop-planting season, after the Iran war disrupted sulfur flows through the Strait of Hormuz. (bloomberg.com) The market was already tight before the export move. Seoul Economic Daily reported on March 31 that aluminum futures on the London Metal Exchange briefly reached $3,492 a ton, the highest level since April 2022, after attacks hit major Middle East producers. (en.sedaily.com) China is not a marginal supplier in this market. Customs data cited by SunSirs showed China exported 3.89 million metric tons of sulfuric acid from January through October 2025, up 104% from a year earlier. (sunsirs.com) The same data showed South Korea imported 87,000 tons of sulfuric acid from China in the first 10 months of 2025. Chile was a much larger buyer at 1.33 million tons, which helps explain why copper producers are also watching the move closely. (sunsirs.com) For chipmakers, sulfuric acid is one of the cleaning chemicals used to strip contaminants from wafer surfaces before more delicate steps begin. Korea Zinc said on March 18 that it already supplies more than 60% of South Korea’s domestic demand for semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid and plans to raise annual capacity from 320,000 tons in the second half of 2026 toward 500,000 tons. (en.sedaily.com) South Korea’s bigger immediate exposure sits elsewhere in the same supply chain. BusinessKorea reported on March 11 that 64.7% of the country’s helium imports came from Qatar and 97.5% of its bromine imports came from Israel, with industry stockpiles of helium and bromine at up to six months. (businesskorea.co.kr) Asiae reported on March 6 that bromine is used in etching, the step that removes selected material to draw chip circuits, while helium is used in wafer cooling and leak testing. Companies including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were described as monitoring the risk and diversifying suppliers. (asiae.co.kr) The immediate question is whether China’s sulfuric acid halt becomes a short planting-season restriction or lasts deeper into 2026. Bloomberg said Acuity first reported the ban and that China’s Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (bloomberg.com)
