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- WORLD BIZ＋ ―Exploring the Reality of the Workplace Vol. 5― Sulfuric Acid Supporting Global Industry: Establishing No. 1 Global Maritime Transport Volume With Interacid
2026.4.27
Business
WORLD BIZ＋
―Exploring the Reality of the Workplace Vol. 5―
Sulfuric Acid Supporting Global Industry: Establishing No. 1 Global Maritime Transport Volume With Interacid
Every day, Sumitomo Corporation Group employees go above and beyond in their daily work across a wide range of industries worldwide. In "WORLD BIZ+ ―Exploring the Reality of the Workplace—" we show the real-life struggles of these employees in the field.
Today we're taking a close look at the Sumitomo Corporation Group’s sulfuric acid business, which delivers an essential chemical to industries worldwide with safety and reliability in mind.
Supporting Everyday Life Through Stable Supply of Sulfuric Acid
You may not encounter sulfuric acid on a daily basis, but it is one of the world’s most widely produced and traded basic chemicals, with an annual global trade volume of around 300 million tons.
Major industries like agriculture, manufacturing and mining require sulfuric acid to function. It's indispensable in fertilizer production, resource extraction – including copper, lithium and uranium – and other industrial processes such as battery and electronic component manufacture.
Delivering this essential material reliably to customers worldwide is the role of the Interacid Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation.
Three Key Strengths of Sumitomo Corporation’s Sulfuric Acid Business
Global network built over 30+ years
Since making the Interacid Group a subsidiary in 1993, Sumitomo Corporation has expanded its global network. What began as a sulfuric acid trading business has evolved through steady investment into a comprehensive operation that integrates maritime transportation, inland logistics, storage and distribution.
Today, the Group maintains operations in key regions including the United States, Chile, Switzerland, Thailand and Singapore, enabling a stable and secure global supply of sulfuric acid.
One of the world’s largest trading volumes
The Interacid Group handles approximately 30% of the world’s maritime sulfuric acid trade, making it the largest volume managed by a single company worldwide.
Trading on this scale is possible through decades of expertise and market analysis allowing the Group to identify supply-demand gaps and secure logistics hubs ahead of competitors.
In addition, Interacid is the only sulfuric acid trader that owns and operates its own storage tanks. With a total storage capacity of approximately 400,000 tons, the Group offers a level of flexibility and reliability unmatched on a global scale.
Strong commitment to safety
Sulfuric acid is a deleterious substance that requires advanced expertise, specialized equipment and uncompromising safety standards in both transportation and storage.
To prevent accidents caused by leaks, the Interacid Group operates under a strict Zero Leakage Policy. Its storage tanks feature a double-walled structure that prevents even a single drop of sulfuric acid from reaching the ground, even in the event of a leak.
Driven by global population growth, increased agricultural necessity and mining market expansion, demand for sulfuric acid is expected to continue rising.
To meet these needs, Sumitomo Corporation will further strengthen and expand its sulfuric acid business – delivering safety, reliability and value to customers worldwide.
For more details on Sumitomo Corporation’s sulfuric acid business, please see this article as well.
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