Sodium sulfate

Sodium Sulfate Recent Commodity Market Intelligence, Analysis, and Forecast

I. Market Price Dynamics
Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate
- Price Data: As of July 27, 2026, the benchmark price for anhydrous sodium sulfate on Shengyishe.com stood at RMB 566.00 per ton, representing a 1.80% increase from the beginning-of-month price of RMB 556.00 per ton. The price remained unchanged at RMB 566.00 per ton on July 24, yielding the same month-on-month growth rate. Annual statistics indicate that the current price resides in the mid-to-high range: the one-year minimum was RMB 488.00 per ton; the maximum, RMB 588.00 per ton; the median, RMB 538.00 per ton; the deviation from the peak (top-level differential) was –RMB 22.00 per ton; the deviation from the trough (bottom-level differential) was +RMB 78.00 per ton; and the annual average was RMB 532.53 per ton.
- Regional Pricing: Industrial sodium sulfate prices in the Ningxia region are influenced by market supply-demand dynamics, production costs, raw material prices, and regulatory policies. Typically, market prices range from several hundred to over one thousand RMB per ton. Prices may rise during periods of heightened demand or rising raw material costs; currently, pricing remains relatively stable.

Anhydrous Sodium Sulfite
- Price Data: As of July 28, 2026, the benchmark price for anhydrous sodium sulfite on Shengyishe.com was RMB 3,150.00 per ton, down 1.56% from the beginning-of-month price of RMB 3,200.00 per ton. Annual data show the price is at a high level: the one-year minimum was RMB 2,070.00 per ton; the maximum, RMB 3,200.00 per ton; the median, RMB 2,635.00 per ton; the top-level differential was –RMB 50.00 per ton; the bottom-level differential was +RMB 1,080.00 per ton; and the annual average was RMB 2,609.02 per ton.

Sodium Metabisulfite
- Price Data: As of July 28, 2026, the benchmark price for sodium metabisulfite on Shengyishe.com was RMB 3,973.33 per ton, down 0.67% from the beginning-of-month price of RMB 4,000.00 per ton. Annual statistics indicate the price remains at a high level: the one-year minimum was RMB 1,916.67 per ton; the maximum, RMB 4,010.00 per ton; the median, RMB 2,963.34 per ton; the top-level differential was –RMB 36.67 per ton; the bottom-level differential was +RMB 2,056.66 per ton; and the annual average was RMB 2,731.68 per ton. The product is currently under both 2-year and 3-year “over-inflation” alert status.

II. Market Dynamics Analysis
Supply Side
- Production Capacity Distribution: China’s natural sodium sulfate production is concentrated primarily in western provinces—Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia. Qinghai Province, leveraging abundant salt lake resources in the Qaidam Basin, is the nation’s largest natural sodium sulfate production base. In 2024, its output reached approximately 4.1 million tons, accounting for 47.7% of national total production. Xinjiang’s output amounted to roughly 2.3 million tons (26.7% share), while Inner Mongolia and other regions contributed approximately 2.0 million tons collectively. Together, these three regions accounted for over 94% of national natural sodium sulfate supply.
- Producer Landscape: The market exhibits oligopolistic dominance and regional concentration. Inner Mongolia Borun Holding Group Co., Ltd. is China’s largest natural sodium sulfate producer, with 2024 output totaling 1.98 million tons—22.2% of national production. CITIC Guoan Lithium Industry Development Co., Ltd. (Qinghai), utilizing resources from the Chaharhan Salt Lake, produced 1.05 million tons in 2024, capturing an 11.8% market share. Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co., Ltd., through integration of southern Xinjiang sodium sulfate mineral resources, achieved annual output of 680,000 tons (7.6% share). Collectively, these three enterprises account for nearly 42% of national capacity.

Demand Side
- Traditional Application Sectors:
- Glass Manufacturing: The largest end-use sector for sodium sulfate, consuming approximately 3.8 million tons of natural sodium sulfate in 2024—45.5% of total consumption. With rapid growth in new-energy glass (e.g., ultra-clear float glass for photovoltaic panels), China’s photovoltaic glass output surged 14.7% year-on-year in 2024 to 13.2 million tons, driving an estimated additional demand of ~450,000 tons of sodium sulfate—accounting for nearly 70% of total incremental demand for the year.
- Detergent Industry: Natural sodium sulfate consumption in the detergent sector reached ~2.1 million tons in 2024 (25.1% share). Stricter environmental regulations and China’s dual-carbon goals have prompted more daily chemical enterprises to adopt naturally sourced raw materials instead of petrochemical-based alternatives, accelerating the penetration of natural sodium sulfate into green detergents. Demand growth in this sub-sector reached 5.8% in 2024—above the industry-wide average.
- Papermaking Industry: Natural sodium sulfate consumption totaled ~1.45 million tons in 2024 (17.4% share).
- Emerging Applications: Sodium sulfate—particularly its decahydrate form—is gaining traction in phase-change energy storage materials. Its moderate phase-change temperature (~32°C) and high latent heat capacity (254 kJ/kg) make it suitable for building energy efficiency and solar thermal storage systems.

Import-Export Trade
- Export Performance: China is the world’s largest exporter of sodium sulfate. In 2025, export volume reached 2.1 million tons—a 4.8% year-on-year increase—with primary destinations including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America. However, exporters face trade barriers such as EU REACH regulations and anti-dumping investigations in certain markets. In 2024, China exported 1.52 million tons of natural sodium sulfate (+4.1% YoY), generating export revenue of ~USD 280 million, averaging USD 184 per ton. Major export destinations included India (380,000 tons, 25% share), Brazil, Turkey, and Southeast Asian countries. Notably, exports of premium-grade (≥99% purity) natural sodium sulfate rose 7.3% YoY.
- Import Performance: Imports remain below 50,000 tons annually, primarily to supplement high-purity specialty sodium sulfate requirements.

III. Market Outlook
Price Trend Forecast
- Short Term: Anhydrous sodium sulfate prices stabilized in late July 2026; barring significant supply-demand shifts, prices are expected to fluctuate within the current range. Anhydrous sodium sulfite and sodium metabisulfite prices declined modestly in late July; if demand fails to improve markedly, further slight downward pressure is anticipated.
- Long Term: Driven by upstream glass industry upgrading, continued expansion of photovoltaic glass capacity, and green transformation in consumer chemicals, overall sodium sulfate demand is projected to grow. Concurrently, industry capacity may expand further, intensifying competition. Price trajectory will hinge on dynamic supply-demand equilibrium: if demand growth outpaces capacity expansion, prices may rise; conversely, they may decline.

Supply-Demand Outlook
- Supply: Future supply is expected to increase steadily as integrated salt lake resource development projects advance—for instance, CITIC Guoan Lithium’s ongoing “salt lake sodium extraction–co-product preparation” integrated project at the Xitaijina’er Salt Lake in Qinghai, which enhances resource utilization efficiency and adds value across the industrial chain.
- Demand: Under the joint impetus of continuous photovoltaic glass capacity expansion, accelerated adoption in emerging applications, and deepening green manufacturing policies, sodium sulfate demand is projected to reach 9.8–10.0 million tons, sustaining a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~3.5%. The industry is poised to evolve toward greater intensification, high-end specialization, and low-carbon operations.