Sulfuric acid is essential to extract metals from rock. Elemental sulfur is used as a component of fertilizers, for example, in the form of calcium sulfate, commonly found in nature as the mineral gypsum. However, sulfur is also used in dusts, wettable powders, liquids, or fumigant gas cartridges to kill insects, mites, fungi, and rodents. Sulfur is used in pharmaceutical skin preparations for the treatment of acne and other conditions. And of course Sulfur is used in the production of sulfuric acid, in the vulcanization of natural rubber, in black gunpowder, in detergents, and in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers.
The market was already tight, with prices up around 500% even before the conflict. The Middle East accounts for about 24% of global sulfur production, and producers typically hold only a few weeks to two months of supply.
Without sulfuric acid, production drops.
Around 20% of global copper, more than 50% of uranium, and 30% of nickel production depend directly on it.
With critical energy infrastructure being destroyed, these shortages won’t disappear even when the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
Sulfuric acid is essential to extract metals from rock. Elemental sulfur is used as a component of fertilizers, for example, in the form of calcium sulfate, commonly found in nature as the mineral gypsum. However, sulfur is also used in dusts, wettable powders, liquids, or fumigant gas cartridges to kill insects, mites, fungi, and rodents. Sulfur is used in pharmaceutical skin preparations for the treatment of acne and other conditions. And of course Sulfur is used in the production of sulfuric acid, in the vulcanization of natural rubber, in black gunpowder, in detergents, and in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers.
The market was already tight, with prices up around 500% even before the conflict. The Middle East accounts for about 24% of global sulfur production, and producers typically hold only a few weeks to two months of supply.
Without sulfuric acid, production drops.
Around 20% of global copper, more than 50% of uranium, and 30% of nickel production depend directly on it.
With critical energy infrastructure being destroyed, these shortages won’t disappear even when the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.