China's reported export ban on sulfuric acid is causing concern among international buyers. The commodity, crucial for fertilizer and metal processing, has also been affected by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly concerning shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

As the US-Israel war in Iran drags into its third month, sulphuric acid – a chemical ingredient critical for fertiliser production and metal processing that has seldom grabbed global headlines – has become a keenly watched commodity. The military conflict in the Gulf and the effective blockage of the Strait of Hormuz initially triggered a squeeze on sulphuric acid, with prices on the rise after shipments in the region – which accounts for a quarter of global production – were largely stalled...