Materials

Sulfuric acid

The world’s most-produced industrial chemical and a keystone input for phosphate fertilizer, battery-metal (nickel/cobalt) leaching, copper hydrometallurgy, and broad chemicals. Largely a BYPRODUCT of metal smelting and oil/gas desulfurization, so supply structurally falls as smelters close and fuels get cleaner — even as battery and fertilizer demand surge.

Why it matters · Tightening sulfuric acid raises phosphate-fertilizer cost (food prices) and bottlenecks battery-metal and copper production for the energy transition.

2

Inputs

3

Companies

2

Facilities

10

Source countries

What it's made of

The inputs

2 raw inputs feed sulfuric acid. Inputs flagged with ● are critical, without them, production halts.

Where it comes from

Country dependencies

Weighted share of upstream inputs sourced from each country.

CountryWeighted shareInputs supplied to sulfuric acid
CNChina35%Smelter SO2 off-gas (byproduct acid)
SASaudi Arabia15%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
CACanada14%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
RURussia12%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
USUnited States10%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
CLChile9%Smelter SO2 off-gas (byproduct acid)
IRIran8%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
AEUnited Arab Emirates8%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
QAQatar3%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)
INIndia2%Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)

Who makes it

Supplier companies

3 companies in this supply chain, sorted by market share.

ExxonMobil (XOM)
HQ US6% share

One of the world's largest oil and gas companies; major US and global sulfur producer as a Claus Process refinery byproduct. Key US refining locations: Baytown, Texas (largest US refinery complex); Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Beaumont, Texas. Also major international refiner (Antwerp, Rotterdam). USGS listed as one of leading US recovered sulfur producers. Also holds 25% of Tengizchevroil (TCO) in Kazakhstan, making it indirectly a significant producer of high-sulfur crude and associated sulfur. Acquired Pioneer Natural Resources 2024 (~$60B), largest US oil deal since Exxon-Mobil merger.

Supplies these inputs

Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)

Replaceability

Substitutability 50%

Business segments

  • Upstream (Oil & Gas Production)40% rev
  • Downstream (Refining + Fuels + Chemicals)35% rev
  • Low Carbon Solutions (Lithium + CCS)15% rev
  • Chemical Products (ExxonMobil Chemical)10% rev

Joint venture operating the Tengiz and Korolevskoye oilfields in Kazakhstan: Chevron (50%), ExxonMobil (25%), Kazmunaigaz (20%), Lukoil (5%). Tengiz crude oil has up to 17% sulfur content — among the highest of any major oilfield globally. Sulfur accumulation at Tengiz became a major environmental issue: a $71M fine was levied in 2007 for sulfur storage violations. Kazakhstan exported $199M worth of sulfur in Q1 2022 alone (+263% YoY). TCO exports oil (and associated sulfur) via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to Novorossiysk on the Black Sea — a single-pipeline dependency. CPC terminal damaged in March 2022, disrupting Kazakhstan exports. Tengiz fire (January 2026) caused force majeure.

Supplies these inputs

Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)

Replaceability

Substitutability 60% · 3 mo to replace

Business segments

  • Crude Oil Production (Tengiz + Korolevskoye)85% rev
  • Elemental Sulfur
  • LPG (Propane + Butane)
  • Dry Gas / Sales Gas

One of Canada's largest oil and gas producers; major oil sands operator (Horizon Oil Sands upgrader, Athabasca Oil Sands Project). Produces elemental sulfur as mandatory byproduct of bitumen upgrading. CNRL's Horizon upgrader processes high-sulfur bitumen; sulfur is formed into blocks/prills and stockpiled or shipped. Canada's oil sands produce ~3M MT/year marketable sulfur; CNRL, Suncor, and Cenovus are the primary contributors. CNRL also operator of largest oil sands project (Jackfish thermal in-situ SAGD operations).

Supplies these inputs

Elemental Sulfur (from Oil/Gas Processing)

Replaceability

Substitutability 65% · 2 mo to replace

Business segments

  • Oil Sands Mining & Upgrading (Horizon)35% rev
  • Thermal In Situ (SAGD — Primrose, Wolf Lake, Kirby, Jackfish)20% rev
  • Heavy Crude Oil (Conventional)
  • North American Light Crude Oil & NGLs