Asia
28 October 2026
Chinese sulphuric acid shipment reaches Chile under concentrate swap
Written by Sofia D'Olivo
A 32,000 t sulphuric acid cargo from China arrived in Mejillones, Chile at the end of September, marking the first shipment since China’s export ban took effect in May. The cargo is understood to be the first of three under a 100,000 t acid-for-concentrates agreement between a Chinese smelter and a Chilean copper producer.
China halted commercial sulphuric acid exports from May through to the end of 2026, following quota restrictions earlier in the year. As previously reported, exports fell 49% year on year to 666,808 t in January–April, according to CRU analysis of Global Trade Tracker data. The restrictions removed a major source of seaborne supply, tightening availability for import-dependent markets including Chile.
