Sulfuric acid prices increased sharply. Closing the Strait of Hormuz prevents a large portion of sulfur supplies from reaching the markets

The Wall Street Journal “WSJ” reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz prevented a large portion of sulfur supplies from reaching the markets.

The newspaper stated in a report that the prices of sulfuric acid increased sharply by up to 80%, as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran and China’s restrictions on its export, which raised concerns about the availability of this substance, which the world depends on in the production of food, metals, paper, electronic chips, and clean water.

Sulfuric acid is the most widely consumed chemical in the world. It is produced from the smelting and refining of non-ferrous metals such as copper and nickel, or through the burning of sulfur, a by-product of oil and gas refining. The acid is widely used in heavy industry to produce a variety of products and materials.

The report indicated that sulfuric acid is used in the production of phosphate fertilizers, extracting copper and other metals from rocks, processing steel, and dyeing leather. It also contributes to the treatment of drinking water, as well as in the manufacture of batteries and semiconductors, in addition to the production of citric acid, which gives a sour flavor to sugary drinks, and silica, which gives toothpaste its rough texture.

The newspaper pointed out that “sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive substance, which makes transporting it expensive and difficult. Users do not usually keep large quantities of this acid because storing it requires special care and specialized tanks.”

A large portion of global sulfur comes from oil refineries and gas stations in the Gulf region, but these supplies have been halted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.