Aluminum sulfate

Sulfuric Acid Aluminum (Aluminum Sulfate) Recent Commodity Market Intelligence, Analysis, and Forecast

I. Market Intelligence
(A) Price Dynamics
1. Quotations by Region and Supplier
- On July 3: Shandong Beilu Hengsheng Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,280/ton for domestic industrial-grade flake aluminum sulfate; Henan Sentie Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,260/ton for domestic industrial-grade flake aluminum sulfate; Zhangzhou Xiangcheng San’an Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,300/ton for domestic aluminum sulfate; Henan Huiyihai Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 850/ton for domestic aluminum sulfate; Henan Huiyihai Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,200/ton for domestic aluminum sulfate; Shanghai Shijian Industrial Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 2,050/ton for domestic iron-free aluminum sulfate (99% purity); Henan Zhengyuan Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,550/ton for domestic industrial-grade aluminum sulfate; Shandong Qiangsen Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 850/ton for domestic aluminum sulfate; Nantong Zhonghe Chemical New Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 870/ton for domestic liquid aluminum sulfate (7.5% concentration, specific gravity 1.28).
- On July 4: Shandong Beilu Hengsheng Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,280/ton for domestic aluminum sulfate (for water treatment and industrial use; Al?O? content >15.8%); Henan Sentie Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,260/ton for domestic industrial-grade flake aluminum sulfate; Henan Huiyihai Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 850/ton; Henan Huiyihai Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,200/ton; Henan Zhengyuan Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,550/ton for domestic industrial-grade aluminum sulfate; Shandong Qiangsen Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 850/ton.
2. Price Volatility
- Recent quotations reveal noticeable price disparities across suppliers. Some suppliers maintain relatively stable pricing—e.g., Henan Huiyihai Water Purification Materials Co., Ltd. held its quotation steady at RMB 1,200/ton on both July 3 and July 4. Others exhibit volatility: Henan Sentie Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. maintained its flake aluminum sulfate quotation at RMB 1,260/ton on both days, yet its liquid aluminum sulfate quotation was RMB 550/ton on July 3, with no corresponding quotation available for July 4.

(B) Market Supply-Demand Conditions
1. Supply Side
- Domestic aluminum sulfate production capacity remains generally stable, with several enterprises possessing large-scale manufacturing capabilities. For example, Shandong Lading New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. has an annual capacity of 120,000 tons, operating from a facility occupying 80 mu (approx. 53,333 m2) with a total construction area of 25,600 m2.
- Enterprises adjust production in response to market demand and strategic positioning. Some focus on R&D and production of high-end aluminum sulfate products—for instance, Shandong Lading New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in semiconductor-grade and battery-grade aluminum sulfate—while others concentrate on industrial-grade aluminum sulfate to serve traditional sectors such as water treatment and papermaking.
2. Demand Side
- The water treatment sector remains the largest consumption segment for aluminum sulfate, accounting for over 55% of total demand. With ongoing national initiatives to enhance urban-rural drinking water safety and upgrade wastewater treatment standards, demand for industrial- and purification-grade aluminum sulfate continues to grow steadily.
- Traditional papermaking has seen gradual demand contraction due to industrial transformation and the increasing adoption of eco-friendly alternatives (e.g., polyaluminum chloride), causing its share to decline from over 30% a decade ago to less than 15% today.
- Emerging applications—including catalyst supports, flame retardants, and pharmaceutical intermediates—are still in their infancy but demonstrate strong growth potential, registering average annual growth exceeding 12% and gradually expanding aluminum sulfate demand.

(C) Related Market Impacts
1. Aluminum Ingot Market
- Between June 29 and July 3, aluminum ingot prices fluctuated. For example, the Yangtze River Market (Nonferrous Network) reported aluminum ingot prices ranging from RMB 22,910–22,950/ton (average RMB 22,930/ton) on June 29, and RMB 22,740–22,780/ton (average RMB 22,760/ton) on July 3. As a primary raw material for aluminum sulfate production, aluminum ingot price fluctuations exert a direct influence on aluminum sulfate production costs.
2. Polyaluminum Sulfate Market
- On July 6, quotations for polyaluminum sulfate varied significantly: Henan Hengyi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,050/ton (Zhengzhou, Henan); Henan Shunzhibang Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,050/ton (Zhengzhou, Henan; powder, 60 mesh); Henan Kaijie Water Treatment Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,100/ton (Zhengzhou, Henan; liquid, 10% concentration); Gongyi Hengyi Water Treatment Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 210/ton (Zhengzhou, Henan); and Hubei Qiba Jiu Chemical Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 950/ton (Wuhan, Hubei). Given functional overlap with aluminum sulfate in water treatment applications, polyaluminum sulfate’s pricing and demand dynamics exert competitive pressure on the aluminum sulfate market.

II. Analysis and Assessment
(A) Price Trend Analysis
1. Short-Term Outlook
- Given relatively stable quotations among key suppliers and absence of significant demand shocks, aluminum sulfate prices are expected to remain broadly stable in the near term. However, inter-supplier price differentials will persist, driven by product quality, brand reputation, and other value-added factors.
2. Medium-Term Outlook
- Growing demand from emerging applications and continued steady expansion in water treatment may strain supply if producers fail to scale output accordingly—potentially triggering modest price increases. Concurrently, aluminum ingot price movements will transmit cost pressures upstream; sustained aluminum ingot price hikes would likely prompt upward adjustments in aluminum sulfate pricing.
3. Long-Term Outlook
- Over the longer horizon, continuous technological advancement and intensifying competition will accelerate industry consolidation toward high-quality, intensive, and globally integrated development. Cost efficiencies gained through innovation and vertical integration may temper excessive price escalation. However, stricter environmental regulations could elevate compliance expenditures, exerting upward pressure on aluminum sulfate pricing.

(B) Supply-Demand Equilibrium Analysis
1. Current Status
- The domestic aluminum sulfate market currently maintains a dynamic supply-demand equilibrium. Producers flexibly calibrate output to match demand across both traditional and nascent end-use segments. Nonetheless, demand composition is undergoing structural change: water treatment demand grows steadily, papermaking demand contracts, and emerging applications drive incremental uptake.
2. Future Trends
- Looking ahead, rapid growth in emerging applications will further optimize demand structure. If producers proactively realign production strategies, expand market penetration into new sectors, and elevate product quality and technical sophistication, supply-demand balance can be preserved. Conversely, failure to adapt risks localized oversupply or shortage across specific application niches.

(C) Competitive Landscape Analysis
1. Current Structure
- Industry concentration is rising steadily: the top ten enterprises now collectively command over 50% of domestic market share. Industrial clusters centered in Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces strengthen cost control via vertical integration while actively pursuing overseas expansion. Product positioning and market segmentation also diverge markedly—e.g., Shandong Lading New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. leads the premium segment, whereas other firms concentrate on volume-driven industrial-grade sales.
2. Future Evolution
- Competition will intensify across multiple dimensions: technological innovation, product quality, service excellence, and cost efficiency. Firms with robust R&D capabilities and superior supply chain integration will gain decisive competitive advantage. Moreover, escalating environmental standards will render sustainability performance and eco-compliance increasingly critical competitive differentiators.

III. Forecast
(A) Price Forecast
- China’s aluminum sulfate market is projected to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%–4.2% from 2026 to 2030, reaching total demand exceeding 4 million metric tons by 2030. Driven by demand expansion and input-cost fluctuations, aluminum sulfate prices are anticipated to rise moderately—but not sharply—remaining anchored by balanced supply-demand fundamentals and cost considerations.

(B) Supply-Demand Forecast
1. Demand Outlook
- The water treatment sector will continue to generate the bulk of incremental demand. Meanwhile, demand from catalyst supports, flame retardants, and pharmaceutical intermediates will surge rapidly. Papermaking demand will persistently contract, albeit with heightened quality and environmental performance expectations.
2. Supply Outlook
- Producers will increase investment in R&D and equipment modernization to boost productivity and product quality, better aligning supply with evolving demand. Industry concentration will further consolidate, with leading enterprises expanding market share via M&A and strategic reorganization. Smaller players will confront mounting competitive pressures.

(C) Competitive Landscape Forecast
- The aluminum sulfate industry will accelerate its transition toward high-quality, intensive, and internationalized development. Technologically advanced and vertically integrated enterprises will emerge as dominant leaders. Sustainability and environmental stewardship will become central pillars of corporate strategy, driving green transformation across the sector. While emerging applications present new growth avenues for SMEs, success will hinge on their ability to continuously upgrade technological capabilities and product standards to meet rigorous market requirements.