Sulphuric acid is the largest-volume industrial chemical consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa’s mining sector — and the complexity of its supply chain is often underestimated by procurement teams.
Copper, cobalt, uranium, and platinum group metal extraction all rely on sulphuric acid in heap leach and solvent extraction operations. The Zambian Copperbelt, South African platinum mines, and DRC cobalt operations collectively consume enormous volumes annually.
Unlike most industrial chemicals, sulphuric acid at 98% concentration has no viable substitute in many of these applications — making reliable supply chain management a strategic priority for mine operators.
H₂SO₄ at 98% concentration is a UN Class 8 dangerous good, requiring specialised FCL containers and full IMDG documentation. Lead times from Indian manufacturers to SADC ports typically run 21–35 days, depending on vessel scheduling from Mundra or Nhava Sheva.
Port of Durban is the primary discharge point for SADC mining supply, with Dar es Salaam serving East African operations. Both ports have established DG chemical handling infrastructure, but documentation errors at origin frequently cause costly delays.
Buyers should confirm the following before issuing any PO to an Indian H₂SO₄ supplier: DG certification status and IMDG documentation capability; UN packaging certification (UN 1830, PG II); third-party COA availability from an accredited laboratory; IEC and RCMC registration for the exporting entity; and confirmed port connectivity to your discharge port from the supplier’s export port.
SNJ Exim manages all of these requirements in-house, with in-house IMDG knowledge that significantly reduces documentation errors and port delays.
SNJ Exim is the dedicated export division of Shreenathji Enterprises. We export high-purity industrial acids from India to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. IEC registered. GHS SDS and third-party COA with every shipment.