Break 2 · Verified Data
China Sulfuric Acid Exports: January–February
Year-on-year comparison before China's export restriction takes effect May 1, 2026. The decline was already underway before the formal restriction — driven by Hormuz disruption to logistics and rising domestic demand.
47%
Year-on-year decline in Chinese sulfuric acid exports
343,400 tonnes less acid reaching global markets in the first two months of 2026 vs the same period in 2025 — before the formal May 1 export restriction even takes effect.
The formal restriction from May 1 removes what remained of China's export capacity. Combined with Hormuz seaborne disruption and Zambia smelter shutdowns, the DRC copper belt faces three simultaneous supply breaks with no substitute source at scale.
Source: Chinese customs data via Fastmarkets, April 2026. SunSirs commodity data service, April 2026.
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