Chilean acid output hits 23-year low

Chilean copper mining is forecast to consume 7.31 Mt of sulphuric acid in 2026 and 7.94 Mt in 2027, according to Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco), a government agency, in its 2026 report on Chile’s sulphuric acid market. This compares with 6.9 Mt in 2025, representing increases of about 6% and 15%, respectively. Most of the demand will come from existing operations.

Domestic acid production fell 17.2% to 3.92 Mt in 2025, its lowest level since 2002. Cochilco attributed the decline mainly to copper smelter stoppages and low utilisation. Imports reached a record 3.97 Mt, overtaking domestic production for the first time in Cochilco’s records. Imports met about half of apparent consumption, which was 7.87 Mt. China supplied 37% of the imports.