Key Minerals in Africa: Another Crisis from the Iran War — Global Sulfuric Acid Shortage, with the Dualka Copper Smelter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (part-owned by China's Zijin Mining) currently only partially alleviating market demand

While attention is focused on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on oil markets, another less conspicuous crisis is quietly unfolding behind the scenes: sulfuric acid, a compound critical to global copper production.

In Ivanhoe Mines' Q1 2026 financial results released on Monday, data related to its copper smelter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo stood out prominently. The smelter at Kamoa-Kakula produced 117,871 metric tons of sulfuric acid alongside anodes — a byproduct of sulfide concentrate smelting.

For Congolese copper producers, this supply comes at a crucial moment. They are bracing for a global sulfuric acid shortage partly triggered by the war in Iran.

No sulfuric acid, no copper

To understand the stakes, one must grasp sulfuric acid’s central role in copper extraction. Approximately 20% of global copper output relies on a hydrometallurgical process known as leaching, which applies acid to oxide ores to extract copper. Without acid, copper cannot be extracted — at least not from these types of deposits, which represent a significant share of copper production in the DRC.

The Iran conflict, along with the near-blockade of sulfur (the raw material for sulfuric acid) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, has severed nearly half of sulfur supplies flowing from the Middle East to global markets. According to S&P Global, by 2025, around 48% of Africa’s sulfur imports will depend on this region. This situation benefits Ivanhoe Mines, whose mining operations do not require sulfuric acid and who face no difficulty finding buyers.

"Our copper smelter on-site produces high-concentration sulfuric acid as a byproduct, which we sell to oxide copper mining companies in the DRC’s copper belt," said Robert Friedland, founder and co-chairman of the Canadian company. CEO Manoela Klot told Reuters that Swiss miner Glencore and Kazakhstan’s Eurasian Resources Group are already among its customers.

Given the scale of demand, insufficient reserves

The Kamoa-Kakula smelter came online at the end of December 2025, with a designed capacity of 500,000 tons of copper annually — making it Africa’s largest smelter. When operating at full capacity, the smelter is expected to produce even more sulfuric acid, between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tons annually. Despite this substantial output, it remains insufficient to close the growing gap. According to Klot, annual sulfuric acid demand in the DRC alone is approximately 2 million metric tons.

Even when running at full capacity, the Kamoa-Kakula smelter can meet only about one-third of the demand, leaving the remainder to be filled by imports. Signs of strain are already emerging in international markets. Reports indicate that key chemical orders from several DRC copper producers have been canceled or withdrawn by suppliers in recent weeks.

Pressure from Chinese export controls may further intensify the situation.

According to Bloomberg, China is preparing to suspend sulfuric acid exports starting in May to secure domestic agricultural needs during the planting season. Sulfuric acid is also used in fertilizer production. This restriction could last throughout 2026, tightening an already strained market further. In South America, Chile — the world’s largest copper producer — saw acid prices rise by 44% within a month, followed closely by the DRC.

Reports indicate that miners in this Central African nation are now reducing their chemical consumption to extend existing inventories, a move that could affect copper output. Friedland noted this will impact global copper production, though the full extent of its effect on copper output forecasts across several mines in the DRC remains unclear.

Source: ecofinagency

Original: toutiao.com/article/1862666904530947/

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