# Phosphoric acid

Phosphate rock dissolved in sulphuric acid: the intermediate behind DAP, MAP and most phosphate fertiliser, and now a feed for LFP batteries.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/

Commodity chemicals · Acids & alkalis · No. 4

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Minerals and salts
- about 45 Mt P2O5 a year (2025, indicative; most of the 47.8 Mt of P2O5 used in fertiliser passes through wet-process acid, except single superphosphate and direct rock use)
- 0.5 t CO₂e per t
- HS 280920
 Commodity chemicals · Acids & alkalis · Foundation · Matter

Every tonne of phosphate turned into fertiliser acid leaves up to five tonnes of radium-laced gypsum behind.

Chart: Illustration: Phosphoric acid

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Phosphate rock is dissolved in sulphuric acid, gypsum is filtered off and the acid is boiled down to 52-54% P2O5; about 45 Mt of P2O5 passes through each year.

##### Three things to know

1. Each tonne of P2O5 takes about 3.3 t of rock and 0.9 t of sulphur, so the 2026 sulphur shock flowed straight into acid costs.
2. India's quarterly acid contract jumped 25% in one quarter, from $1,360 to $1,700 per tonne of P2O5 in Q3 2026.
3. Morocco holds 68% of the world's phosphate reserves, and its OCP dominates the merchant acid trade.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Rock mining**About 250 Mt of phosphate rock
2. 2 **Sulphur burning**Sulphuric acid made on site
3. 3 **Digestion**Rock dissolved, gypsum filtered off
4. 4 **Concentration**Evaporated to 52-54% P2O5
5. 5 **Granulation**Ammoniated into DAP and MAP
6. 6 **Gypsum stacks**4.5-5 t waste per tonne P2O5
 Covered in [The chemical industry: what it makes and how it is organisedChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/chem-industry-map/)[Heavy inorganics: salt, sulphur, nitrogen and phosphorusChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/heavy-inorganic-chemicals/)[From building blocks to plastics, fibres and detergentsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/building-blocks-to-polymers/)[Scale, capacity and feedstock: which chemical plants get builtChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/scale-capacity-feedstock/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/phosphoric_acid/links/index.md)