Nitric Acid Global Market Report 2026

Nitric acid is a reddish fume, presenting itself as a pale yellow to reddish-brown liquid, and it produces red-brown fumes through the oxidation of ammonia. This chemical compound serves as a vital raw material for the production of fertilizers and explosives. In the automotive and fertilizer industries, nitric acid finds extensive use for diverse manufacturing purposes.

The primary types of nitric acid include concentrated nitric acid and dilute nitric acid. Concentrated nitric acid is a potent oxidizing agent typically stored in dark brown bottles to prevent photolytic decomposition of dinitrogen tetroxide. It is utilized in manufacturing processes to avoid spontaneous explosions. Various applications of concentrated nitric acid include its use in the production of fertilizers, nitrobenzene, adipic acid, toluene diisocyanate (TDI), nitrochlorobenzene, and other compounds across industries such as explosives, agrochemicals, electronics, automotive, and more.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have influenced the nitric acid market by increasing costs for imported raw materials, production equipment, and cross border chemical trade, impacting pricing across fertilizers, explosives, and chemical intermediates segments. These effects are most evident in asia pacific, europe, and latin america, where nitric acid is heavily traded for industrial and agricultural applications. Higher tariffs have led to cost pressures for downstream manufacturers and fluctuating supply availability. At the same time, tariffs have encouraged domestic production expansion, local sourcing strategies, and investments in regional manufacturing facilities, supporting long term supply security.

The nitric acid market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides nitric acid market statistics, including nitric acid industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a nitric acid market share, detailed nitric acid market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the nitric acid industry. This nitric acid market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The nitric acid market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $22.55 billion in 2025 to $23.45 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.0%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of fertilizer manufacturing capacity, growth in mining and explosives demand, increasing use in chemical intermediates, industrialization in developing economies, availability of ammonia based feedstock.

The nitric acid market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $26.9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising global food demand, increasing infrastructure and mining activities, growth of automotive manufacturing, expansion of specialty chemicals production, advancements in nitric acid manufacturing processes. Major trends in the forecast period include growing demand for nitric acid in fertilizer production, rising use of nitric acid in explosives manufacturing, increasing consumption in automotive component processing, expansion of nitric acid use in specialty chemical synthesis, rising demand for high purity nitric acid grades.

The increasing expansion of the agricultural sector is expected to propel the growth of the nitric acid market going forward. The agricultural sector refers to the segment of the economy that includes activities related to cultivating land, producing and harvesting crops, and raising livestock. In agriculture, nitric acid is used in the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizers, supplying essential nitrogen to improve crop growth and yield, while also functioning as a soil amendment for pH adjustment. For instance, in January 2025, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, a US-based federal executive department, U.S. agricultural exports in 2024 rose by $1.8 billion, marking a 1% increase compared to 2023. Therefore, the increasing expansion of the agricultural sector is driving the growth of the nitric acid market.

Major companies operating in the nitric acid market are focusing on strategic collaboration, to provide reliable services to customers. Strategic collaboration refers to a mutually beneficial partnership between two or more independent entities who work together to achieve shared goals aligned with their individual strategic objectives. For instance, in February 2023, Rotating Machinery Services Inc., a US-based aftermarket engineering and services company, announced a collaboration with Howden Maintenance Partners, a Belgium-based maintenance and repair services company. Under this collaboration, Rotating Machinery Services (RMS) and Howden Maintenance Partners (HMP) aim to enhance the servicing of hot gas and nitric acid expanders in the Europe and Middle East (EMENA) region. This partnership combines RMS's expertise in Hot Gas Expanders with HMP's local repair capabilities, seeking to provide customers with improved reliability, maintainability, and performance for Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) and Nitric Acid Expanders through a European center of excellence for expander services.

In December 2023, Yara International ASA, a Norway-based chemicals company acquired organic-based fertilizer business of Agribios Italiana for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition of Agribios Italiana's organic-based fertilizer business by Yara International ASA enhances Yara's position in Europe, enabling the company to expand its offerings in support of regenerative agriculture, improve soil health, and contribute to the European Union's goal of increasing farmland under organic farming practices. Agribios Italiana is an Italy-based chemical manufacturing company that produces organic and organo-mineral fertilizers for the agricultural industry.

Major companies operating in the nitric acid market are BASF SE, Yara International ASA, CF Industries Holdings Inc., Nutrien Ltd., LSB Industries Inc., Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd., Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd., Grupa Azoty S.A., OCI N.V., EuroChem Group AG, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Dyno Nobel Pty Limited, Hanwha Corporation, Apache Nitrogen Products Inc., Enaex S.A., Sasol Limited, UBE Industries Ltd., Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd., TogliattiAzot, Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO), Orica Limited, Koch Fertilizer LLC, SBU Azot, Sichuan Meifeng Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc.

Europe was the largest region in the nitric acid market in 2025. The regions covered in the nitric acid market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the nitric acid market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain

The nitric acid market consists of sales of fuming nitric acid and anhydrous nitric acid. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Nitric Acid Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses nitric acid market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for nitric acid ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The nitric acid market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Concentrated Nitric Acid; Dilute Nitric Acid
• 2) By Application: Fertilizers; Nitrobenzene; Adipic Acid; Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI); Nitrochlorobenzene; Other Applications
• 3) By End-Use Industry: Explosives; Agrochemicals; Electronics; Automotive; Other End-Use Industries
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Concentrated Nitric Acid: Industrial Grade Concentrated Nitric Acid; Laboratory Grade Concentrated Nitric Acid
• 2) By Dilute Nitric Acid: Dilute Nitric Acid For Laboratory Use; Dilute Nitric Acid For Industrial Applications
• Companies Mentioned: BASF SE; Yara International ASA; CF Industries Holdings Inc.; Nutrien Ltd.; LSB Industries Inc.; Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.; Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd.; Grupa Azoty S.A.; OCI N.V.; EuroChem Group AG; Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO); Dyno Nobel Pty Limited; Hanwha Corporation; Apache Nitrogen Products Inc.; Enaex S.A.; Sasol Limited; UBE Industries Ltd.; Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd.; TogliattiAzot; Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO); Orica Limited; Koch Fertilizer LLC; SBU Azot; Sichuan Meifeng Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.; Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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