Analysis of the Impact of Sustained Sulfuric Acid Price Increases on Magnesium Sulfate Exports

Magnesium sulfate, with different water of crystallization contents, commonly exists in various forms such as magnesium sulfate heptahydrate and magnesium sulfate monohydrate, and is widely used in agriculture, medicine, food, industry and other fields. In the agricultural field, agricultural magnesium sulfate can be used as a fertilizer to supplement magnesium elements for crops, promote photosynthesis, and improve crop yield and quality; in the medical field, magnesium sulfate injection can be used to treat pregnancy - induced hypertension, lower blood pressure, and treat preeclampsia and eclampsia; in the food field, magnesium sulfate can be used as a food additive to improve the taste and quality of food.

In the global chemical industry chain, fluctuations in raw material prices have a wide - ranging impact. Recently, the price of sulfuric acid has been rising continuously, which has a significant impact on the export trade pattern of the magnesium sulfate industry that relies on sulfuric acid. Checking the curve graph of the price for sulfuric acid from Jan. 2025 to now as below。

The rise in sulfuric acid prices has a multifaceted impact on magnesium sulfate exports. The production cost has risen sharply. Since sulfuric acid is a key raw material, the rise in its price has significantly increased the production cost of magnesium sulfate. The raw material cost of some enterprises has increased by 20% - 30% year - on - year, and the profit margin has been compressed, which in turn affects the magnesium sulfate price. Faced with the magnesium sulfate price increase, enterprises are in a dilemma of either maintaining the original price and sacrificing profits or increasing the price and weakening competitiveness.

China occupies an important position in the global magnesium sulfate market and is a major producer and exporter of magnesium sulfate. In recent years, China's magnesium sulfate industry has shown a rapid development trend. The output has increased from 1.6746 million tons in 2015 to about 2.7423 million tons in 2022. In 2024, the total export volume of magnesium sulfate in China was about 1.181 million tons. The export markets are mainly in Southeast Asian countries, as well as Peru, Poland, Mexico and other countries.