Morocco’s sulphuric acid imports top 1mn t in Jan-Jun

Morocco's sulphuric acid imports in the first half of this year recovered to levels in the same period two years earlier, before state-owned phosphates fertilizer producer OCP temporarily exited the acid market owing to a drop in processed phosphate prices

Moroccan sulphuric acid imports rose to 1.05mn t in the first six months of this year — in line with levels two years earlier and up sharply from the 131,000t imported in the same period last year, GTT data show.

The rise in imports reflects OCP's stronger demand for raw materials — such as sulphuric acid — following the ramp up in production capacity at its Jorf Lasfar hub.

Morocco continued to target European countries for its acid requirements in the first half of the year, with countries in the bloc supplying 752,000t in January-June, accounting for 71pc of all receipts. Asian countries supplied 17pc of Morocco's sulphuric acid imports in the first half of this year.

The largest supplier to OCP over the period was Bulgaria, which shipped 189,122t in January-June, at a sharp increase from 19,000t in the previous six months and none in the same period a year earlier.

China shipped 144,000t in January-June, up by 57pc from the same period a year earlier. Chinese first-half exports fell by 56pc compared with the second half of 2023, but they increased towards June as European supply tightened.

Spain shipped 130,000t to Morocco in the first half of this year, the highest six-month volume since the first half of 2021.

Argus expects Moroccan sulphuric acid imports to reach 2mn t this year but to decline next year as sulphur burner capacity ramps up, with the sourcing requirement shifting to sulphur.

By Lili Minton