Global Sulphuric Acid for Uranium Processing Market Outlook, 2031

Sulphuric acid is the essential reagent for extracting most of the world's uranium. In in-situ recovery mining, which accounts for more than half of global uranium production, a weak acid solution is injected through wells into permeable sandstone ore bodies, dissolves uranium underground and is pumped to the surface for processing, while in conventional mills crushed ore is leached with acid in tanks or heaps before uranium is recovered by solvent extraction or ion exchange and precipitated as yellowcake. Depending on ore chemistry, producing one tonne of uranium can require several dozen tonnes of sulphuric acid, and acid is one of the largest operating costs for in-situ recovery operations. Kazakhstan, which produces roughly 39% to 40% of the world's mined uranium almost entirely by acid in-situ recovery, is the dominant consumer, and Kazatomprom's annual acid requirement is commonly estimated at around 1.8 to 2.2 million tonnes. Other acid users include ISR operations in Uzbekistan and Australia, conventional mills in Namibia, Niger and Canada, and US in-situ projects, although many US ISR operations use alkaline carbonate leach rather than acid. Acid also plays a role in uranium refining and conversion and in fuel cycle chemistry, and phosphate-derived and copper-associated uranium recovery use acid streams as well.

Acid supply has become a defining constraint on uranium output. Kazatomprom repeatedly cut production plans in 2023 and 2024 citing acid shortages and construction delays, and in 2026 it lowered guidance by around 10%, with at least one joint venture's target cut sharply, as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupted Middle Eastern sulphur exports, China banned sulphuric acid exports from 1 May and Russian export restrictions reduced supply from a key regional source. Acid prices have been rising by roughly 40% a year, and Kazatomprom's own estimates put acid at about 15% of production costs in 2026. To reduce dependence on imports, Kazakhstan is expanding domestic capacity: Kazatomprom operates roughly 680,000 tonnes a year of in-house acid capacity, EuroChem is building an acid plant in Kazakhstan with part of its output allocated to uranium producers, and Kazatomprom's own 800,000-tonne TQZ plant has been delayed to the third quarter of 2027 at the earliest after a paleontological discovery at the site. These constraints come as uranium demand strengthens, with reactor restarts, life extensions, new builds in China and India, a pledge by more than 20 countries at COP28 in December 2023 to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 and US executive orders in May 2025 supporting nuclear expansion, making acid security a strategic issue for the nuclear fuel cycle.

Drivers Growth in Nuclear Power and Uranium Demand Reactor life extensions, restarts in Japan and the United States, new reactors in China, India and other countries, and government commitments to expand nuclear power increase uranium demand and encourage production growth, raising acid requirements for in-situ recovery and conventional mills.
Dominance of Acid In-Situ Recovery In-situ recovery is the lowest-cost uranium mining method for suitable sandstone deposits and dominates output in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, so growth in ISR production translates directly into higher sulphuric acid consumption.

Challenges Acid Shortages and Price Inflation Uranium producers, especially in landlocked Kazakhstan, depend on regional acid supply from domestic plants, Russia, China and Uzbekistan, and shortages in 2023 to 2026, worsened by the 2026 Hormuz disruption, Chinese export ban and Russian restrictions, have forced production cuts and raised costs.
Logistics, Construction Delays and Environmental Concerns Acid is hazardous and expensive to transport long distances by rail, so new supply requires local acid plants that take years to build, as shown by delays to Kazatomprom's TQZ plant. Groundwater protection and restoration after in-situ leaching also require careful management.

Trends Domestic Acid Plant Construction Kazakhstan and other uranium producers are building sulphur-burning acid plants close to mines, often with partners such as fertiliser producers, to secure supply and reduce exposure to imports, while also generating steam and power.
Lower Acid Consumption Technologies Producers are optimising wellfield design, leaching solutions and processing to reduce acid consumption per tonne of uranium, and some operators are evaluating alkaline leaching or hybrid approaches for suitable deposits.




In-situ recovery accounts for the largest share of sulphuric acid consumption in uranium processing because it produces more than half of the world's uranium and relies on continuous acid injection into ore bodies to dissolve uranium underground. In-situ recovery, also called in-situ leaching, is the dominant consumer of acid in uranium production. Wellfields consist of patterns of injection and production wells drilled into permeable sandstone aquifers, through which a leaching solution with acid concentrations typically of a few grams per litre and an oxidant is circulated. The solution dissolves uranium, is pumped to surface processing plants where uranium is captured on ion exchange resin, eluted and precipitated, and the barren solution is re-acidified and reinjected. Acid consumption varies widely with the carbonate content and mineralogy of the host rock, ranging from tens of tonnes to more than a hundred tonnes of acid per tonne of uranium in difficult deposits, which is why acid supply directly governs output. Kazakhstan's mines operated by Kazatomprom and its partners, including Cameco, Orano, CGN, CNNC, Rosatom-linked companies and Japanese consortia, account for most ISR acid use. Uzbekistan's Navoiyuran and Australia's Beverley and Four Mile operations also use acid ISR. Conventional milling of mined ore uses acid in agitated tank leaching or heap leaching, as at Namibia's Husab and Rössing mines, Niger's operations and some Canadian mills, with acid consumption depending on ore grade and gangue minerals; Canada's high-grade Athabasca ores require less acid per tonne of uranium. By-product uranium recovery from copper, gold and phosphate operations, such as Olympic Dam in Australia, uses acid in associated leaching circuits. Refining and conversion of uranium concentrates into uranium hexafluoride involve other chemicals but use acid in some steps and in waste treatment. Effluent and waste treatment at processing plants also consumes acid.


Acid in-situ recovery leaching dominates uranium-related acid consumption because it is the main production method in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while agitated tank leaching and heap leaching at conventional mines make up the remaining acid-based processing methods. Acid in-situ recovery accounts for the majority of uranium-related acid use because of its scale in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and its continuous consumption of acid over the life of each wellfield. Unlike conventional mining, ISR does not involve excavation or tailings dams, making it low-cost and lower-impact where geology is suitable, but it depends entirely on reagent supply. Alkaline in-situ recovery, using sodium bicarbonate and oxygen, is used in the United States in Wyoming, Texas and Nebraska, where host rocks have higher carbonate content that would consume too much acid, and it does not form part of acid demand. Agitated tank leaching at conventional mills processes crushed ore in tanks with acid, oxidants and heat, recovering uranium by solvent extraction or ion exchange, and it is used for higher-grade or hard-rock deposits in Namibia, Niger, Canada and China. Heap leaching, used for lower-grade ores, stacks crushed ore on lined pads and irrigates it with acid solution, and it is used at some operations in Namibia and elsewhere. Acid consumption in milling is measured per tonne of ore, often several tens of kilograms, and total requirements depend on throughput. Processing method selection depends on ore grade, mineralogy, deposit geology, environmental regulations and reagent availability. Over the forecast period, most new acid demand is expected from ISR expansion in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and new conventional mines in Namibia and Canada, along with restarts of idled operations encouraged by stronger uranium prices. Acid availability can therefore shape which deposits are developed first and how quickly new wellfields are brought into production.


Domestic and regional acid plants supply most acid for uranium processing because acid is costly to transport long distances, with landlocked producers relying on nearby sulphur-burning plants, metallurgical acid and cross-border rail supply. Kazatomprom's in-house sulphur-burning acid capacity of roughly 680,000 tonnes a year supplies a significant part of its needs, using elemental sulphur sourced from Kazakhstan's own oil and gas processing, such as the Tengiz and Kashagan fields, and imports. Metallurgical acid from copper and zinc smelters in Kazakhstan, including Kazzinc and Kazakhmys facilities, contributes additional volume. Imports by rail from Russia, Uzbekistan and China have historically filled the gap, but Russian export restrictions, China's May 2026 export ban and broader regional shortages made these sources less reliable. New supply is being added through partnerships, notably EuroChem's acid plant in Kazakhstan, part of whose output is allocated to uranium producers, and Kazatomprom's 800,000-tonne TQZ plant, whose commissioning has been pushed to the third quarter of 2027 at the earliest after a paleontological discovery at the site. Conventional mines in Namibia buy acid from local and South African producers or burn imported sulphur, Niger's mines rely on imported reagents, and Canadian mills source acid from regional producers. Transport by rail tank car over hundreds or thousands of kilometres adds cost and risk, and storage capacity at mine sites is limited, so supply interruptions quickly affect production. Producers increasingly sign long-term supply agreements and invest in storage and logistics. The availability of elemental sulphur from Central Asian oil and gas fields gives Kazakhstan a strategic advantage once domestic acid plants are complete. Kazakhstan's sulphur output gives it a feedstock advantage. Acid supply logistics are coordinated centrally to prioritise production at key wellfields.

State-owned and joint venture uranium producers in Kazakhstan account for the largest share of sulphuric acid consumption in uranium processing, while conventional miners in Africa, Canada and Australia and emerging ISR projects form other users. Kazatomprom and its joint ventures with Cameco, Orano, CGN, CNNC, Uranium One and Japanese partners are the dominant consumers, given Kazakhstan's share of roughly 39% to 40% of global mined uranium and its reliance on acid ISR. Joint ventures such as Inkai, Katco, Budenovskoye and others have had production targets adjusted in response to acid availability, with one 2026 target cut from about 6,000 to 3,750 tonnes. Uzbekistan's Navoiyuran, producing uranium mainly by acid ISR, is another significant user. Chinese-owned operations in Namibia, such as Husab operated by CGN-backed Swakop Uranium, and Rössing, majority owned by China National Uranium Corporation, consume acid in conventional processing. Orano's operations in Niger and Canada, Cameco's Canadian mills and Australian producers including BHP's Olympic Dam and Heathgate's Beverley and Four Mile are other consumers. Emerging producers, including companies developing ISR projects in Kazakhstan, Australia and the United States and new conventional mines in Namibia, Canada and Africa, will add acid demand as they start up. Utilities and fuel buyers are indirect stakeholders, as acid shortages affect uranium supply and contract pricing, and some long-term contracts now consider acid supply risk. Governments regard acid supply for uranium as strategically important, with Kazakhstan prioritizing domestic plants and regional supply agreements. Producers increasingly disclose acid supply status in production guidance, and investors track acid availability as a leading indicator of Kazakh output. Western utilities monitor these developments because Kazakh supply underpins a large share of long-term contracts. New producers in Namibia and Canada are planning acid supply early in project design.


Central Asia, led by Kazakhstan, dominates sulphuric acid consumption for uranium processing because almost all of its uranium is produced by acid in-situ recovery, while Africa, Australia and North America account for smaller volumes in conventional mills and ISR. Central Asia accounts for the large majority of uranium-related acid demand. Kazakhstan's acid ISR mines, producing roughly 39% to 40% of global uranium, require an estimated 1.8 to 2.2 million tonnes of acid a year, supplied by Kazatomprom's own plants, smelter acid and imports, and acid shortages led to production guidance cuts in 2023, 2024 and 2026; new plants by EuroChem and Kazatomprom are under construction, with the TQZ plant delayed to the third quarter of 2027. Uzbekistan's acid ISR operations add regional demand. Africa is the second region, with Namibia's Husab and Rössing mines and Niger's operations using acid in conventional processing, and new projects in Namibia and Tanzania under development. Australia uses acid at Olympic Dam and ISR operations in South Australia. North America uses acid in Canadian mills, while most US ISR operations use alkaline leaching. China has domestic uranium mining using various leaching methods. The 2026 global sulphur and acid disruption, including the Hormuz closure, China's export ban and Russian restrictions, affected all regions but hit landlocked Central Asian producers hardest.


• September 2026 – Kazatomprom's TQZ acid plant delayed to 2027: Commissioning of Kazatomprom's 800,000-tonne-a-year sulphuric acid plant was pushed to the third quarter of 2027 at the earliest after a paleontological discovery at the site.
• May 2026 – China bans sulphuric acid exports: China's export ban reduced an important source of imported acid for Central Asian uranium producers.
• March 2026 – Hormuz closure tightens global sulphur supply: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted Middle Eastern sulphur exports, tightening acid markets and raising costs for uranium producers.
• May 2025 – US executive orders support nuclear expansion: US executive orders aimed to quadruple domestic nuclear capacity by 2050 and support the fuel supply chain, reinforcing long-term uranium demand.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base Year: 2025
• Estimated Year: 2026
• Forecast Year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Global Sulphuric Acid for Uranium Processing Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• Ongoing trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Mining Method
• Acid In-Situ Recovery
• Agitated Tank Leaching
• Heap Leaching

By Acid Source
• Captive Sulphur-Burning Plants
• Smelter Acid
• Regional Imports
• Third-Party Supply Partnerships

By Application
• Uranium Leaching
• Ion Exchange Elution and Processing
• Wellfield Acidification
• Waste and Effluent Treatment

By End User
• Kazakh State and Joint Venture Producers
• Uzbek Producers
• African Conventional Mines
• Australian Producers
• North American Producers