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Article: Sulfuric acid is suddenly scarce and expensive.
- Article from:
- Purchasing
- Article date:
- September 13, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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By Gordon Graff
Vigorous demand, a static supply and declining imports have combined to drive up U.S. sulfuric acid prices for much of this year. And market watchers say these conditions are likely to continue for at least another year.
Not only is sulfuric acid supply tight, but there is a scarcity of railcars to deliver the chemical, prompting concern among some buyers.
Agriculture and metals processing are the two hottest markets for sulfuric acid right now. Roughly 60% of sulfuric acid produced goes into agriculture, primarily in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. The biofuels boom, particularly the proliferation of ethanol plants, is ...