Chinese acid shipments to Chile restart after a months-long freeze

what happened

Chinese exports of sulphuric acid to Chile returned in September, ending a gap that began in March, according to customs figures reported by Reuters. Shipments to the country reached 31,666 metric tons, about 93.5% of China's total acid exports of 33,873 tons that month.

Chile had received acid in April and May, but the wider flow stayed far below May's level of 116,703 tons, when Beijing curbed sales abroad to protect fertiliser supplies at home after the Iran war disrupted sulphur deliveries. Monthly volumes fell below 1,000 tons in June and July, and Indonesia, a major buyer for nickel leaching, received nothing for four straight months.

why it matters

Chile relies heavily on imported acid to leach copper from ore, so the renewed flow eases a bottleneck for one of the largest copper producers. Chinese smelters, which produce acid as a byproduct, also depend on acid revenue to support margins while copper concentrate processing fees sit below zero. Traders following copper will watch whether shipments keep recovering.

market impact

Copper: steadier acid supply for Chilean leaching reduces supply risk for producers, a modest easing of pressure

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