Global Concentrated Nitric Acid Market Growth, Share, Size, Trends and Forecast (2025 - 2031)

• In September 2020, CF Industries announced a $41.4 million investment in the Donaldsonville Nitrogen Complex, the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer facility, to boost nitric acid production. This expansion aims to meet growing demands from various chemical industries.

In this report, the Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by Type, Grade, Application, End-Use Industry and Geography.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market, Segmentation by Type

The Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by Type into Strong Nitric Acid and Fuming Nitric Acid.

Strong Nitric Acid

Strong nitric acid dominates the market with a share of approximately 85%, primarily due to its extensive use in the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizers, explosives, and industrial chemicals. It is widely adopted in agriculture, defense, and chemical manufacturing sectors where high-concentration nitric acid is essential for large-scale applications.

Fuming Nitric Acid

Fuming nitric acid holds around 15% of the market and is mainly used in rocket propellants, nitration reactions, and specialized military applications. Known for its high reactivity and oxidizing strength, this type is essential in aerospace engineering and advanced chemical synthesis, despite its more limited commercial availability.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market, Segmentation by Grade

The Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by Grade into Technical Grade and Pure Grade.

Technical Grade

Technical grade nitric acid dominates the market with a share of approximately 82%, due to its widespread use in industrial manufacturing, fertilizer production, and explosives. It is favored for its cost-efficiency and compatibility with large-scale applications where ultra-high purity is not required.

Pure Grade

Pure grade nitric acid holds about 18% of the market, primarily used in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory research. Known for its high purity level and low contaminant profile, it is essential in processes requiring precise chemical reactions and cleanroom conditions.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market, Segmentation by Application

The Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by Application into Ammonium Nitrate, Adipic Acid, Nitrobenzene, Toluene Diisocyanate and Others.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate is the largest application segment, accounting for approximately 58% of the concentrated nitric acid market. It is widely used in the production of fertilizers and explosives, particularly in the agriculture and mining industries. High demand from developing countries is expected to sustain growth in this segment.

Adipic Acid

Adipic acid represents nearly 18% of the market and is primarily used in the production of nylon 6,6 fibers and engineering plastics. Concentrated nitric acid is essential for oxidation processes in adipic acid synthesis, making it a key chemical in the textile and automotive industries.

Nitrobenzene

Nitrobenzene accounts for around 12% of the market, used extensively in manufacturing aniline, which is a precursor to polyurethane foams. This application is growing due to increased demand from the furniture, insulation, and automotive sectors that rely on flexible foam products.

Toluene Diisocyanate

Toluene diisocyanate holds a market share of roughly 7% and is crucial for the production of flexible polyurethane foams. These foams are commonly used in bedding, upholstery, and packaging materials. Nitric acid plays a role in the upstream processes for isocyanate derivatives.

Others

The "Others" segment comprises about 5% of the market and includes applications in metal treatment, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory reagents. These niche uses demand high-purity nitric acid for specific oxidation reactions and formulation processes in controlled environments.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market, Segmentation by End-Use Industry

The Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by End-Use Industry into Agrochemicals, Explosives, Automotive, Electronics and Others.

Agrochemicals

Agrochemicals represent the largest end-use segment, contributing around 54% to the concentrated nitric acid market. The compound is primarily used in the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizers, which are essential for enhancing crop yields and supporting global food production. Growth in agricultural demand in developing economies is a major driver.

Explosives

The explosives segment accounts for nearly 20% of the market, with nitric acid used in the manufacturing of ammonium nitrate explosives and nitro compounds. Applications span across mining, construction, and defense, where demand for controlled blasting materials continues to rise.

Automotive

Automotive holds a market share of approximately 12%, where concentrated nitric acid is utilized in the production of adipic acid and nylon-based engineering plastics. These materials are used in vehicle parts for weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency, making them key components in automotive design.

Electronics

The electronics industry contributes around 8% of the market, using high-purity nitric acid in the production of semiconductors, PCBs, and cleanroom chemical processes. The demand is driven by the expansion of microelectronics manufacturing and the need for precise etching and oxidation reactions.

Others

The "Others" category holds about 6% of the market and includes applications in pharmaceuticals, metal processing, and research laboratories. These niche sectors rely on nitric acid for controlled chemical synthesis, surface treatment, and analytical processes.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market, Segmentation by Geography

In this report, the Concentrated Nitric Acid Market has been segmented by Geography into five regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.

Concentrated Nitric Acid Market Share (%), by Geographical Region

North America

North America holds approximately 22% of the concentrated nitric acid market, driven by strong demand from the agrochemical and explosives sectors. The U.S. leads the region due to its expansive fertilizer industry, robust mining operations, and strict adherence to industrial safety standards.

Europe

Europe dominates the global market with a share of around 34%, supported by a mature chemical manufacturing base and increasing demand for adipic acid and nitrobenzene. Countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands are key contributors, benefiting from advanced industrial infrastructure and stringent environmental policies.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific accounts for roughly 28% of the market and is expected to witness the fastest growth, driven by expanding agricultural activities and rapid industrialization in India and China. The region is a major hub for ammonium nitrate production and sees rising use of nitric acid in electronics and textile chemicals.

Middle East and Africa

Middle East and Africa collectively hold about 8% of the market, primarily supported by the oil & gas and mining sectors. Countries like Saudi Arabia and South Africa are adopting nitric acid for explosives manufacturing and fertilizer applications, aligned with regional infrastructure growth.

Latin America

Latin America represents nearly 8% of the market, with growing consumption in agriculture and mineral processing. Nations such as Brazil and Argentina are key markets due to the rising use of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers and expanding chemical production capabilities.

This report provides an in depth analysis of various factors that impact the dynamics of Global Concentrated Nitric Acid Market. These factors include; Market Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Analysis.

Drivers

• Chemical industry expansion
• Demand for industrial explosives
• Growth in agricultural applications

• Increasing use in nitroaromatics production: Concentrated nitric acid (CNA) plays a pivotal role in the production of nitroaromatics, which are essential chemicals used in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and explosives. The increasing demand for nitroaromatics, driven by their versatile applications, has spurred the growth of the global concentrated nitric acid market. Nitroaromatics are integral in the synthesis of various pharmaceutical intermediates, herbicides, and insecticides, thus contributing significantly to agricultural productivity and healthcare advancements worldwide.

  The pharmaceutical industry utilizes nitroaromatics derived from concentrated nitric acid in the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for drugs treating cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infections. The precise chemical properties of nitroaromatics enable pharmaceutical manufacturers to develop highly effective medicines. Furthermore, these compounds are vital in the synthesis of agrochemicals, including herbicides and insecticides, which enhance crop protection and promote agricultural efficiency.

  In addition to pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, concentrated nitric acid finds extensive use in the production of explosives and propellants. Nitroaromatics serve as key ingredients in explosives such as TNT (trinitrotoluene) and RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine), which are crucial in military applications and mining operations. The stringent safety and quality standards associated with explosive manufacturing highlight the critical role of high-purity concentrated nitric acid in ensuring reliability and performance in these applications.

Restraints

• Environmental and safety regulations
• Volatility in raw material prices
• Competition from substitutes

• Energy-intensive manufacturing process: The global concentrated nitric acid market is influenced significantly by its energy-intensive manufacturing process. Nitric acid, a crucial chemical used in various industrial applications including fertilizers, explosives, and chemicals production, is primarily manufactured through the Ostwald process. This process involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitric oxide (NO), followed by further oxidation to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and finally absorption in water to form nitric acid (HNO3). Each step in this sequence demands substantial energy inputs, making energy costs a critical factor affecting the market dynamics.

  The first stage of the Ostwald process involves the catalytic oxidation of ammonia gas, which requires precise control of temperature and pressure conditions. This step alone consumes a significant amount of energy to achieve optimal conversion rates. Subsequently, the oxidation of nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide is another energy-intensive process due to the high temperatures required to drive the reaction forward effectively. These reactions not only demand thermal energy but also rely on efficient use of air or oxygen as reactants, further influencing operational costs.

  The final absorption of nitrogen dioxide into water to produce nitric acid is a crucial yet energy-demanding step. This absorption process is exothermic, releasing heat that must be managed carefully to avoid energy losses and ensure product quality and efficiency. The overall energy intensity of the Ostwald process underscores the market's sensitivity to energy prices and availability, impacting production costs and ultimately, market prices of concentrated nitric acid.

Opportunities

• Rising industrialization in developing regions
• Technological advancements in production methods
• Increasing applications in electronics industry

• Focus on sustainable manufacturing practices: The global concentrated nitric acid market is increasingly focusing on sustainable manufacturing practices amidst growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures. Nitric acid, a crucial chemical used in various industries such as agriculture, explosives, and chemical manufacturing, is pivotal for global industrial operations. However, its production traditionally involves energy-intensive processes and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to air pollution and environmental degradation.

  In response to these challenges, the industry is actively adopting sustainable manufacturing practices. One significant trend is the implementation of cleaner production technologies that minimize environmental impact. Advanced catalytic converters and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems are being integrated into nitric acid production plants to reduce NOx emissions significantly. These technologies help in converting harmful emissions into harmless nitrogen and water, thereby aligning with stringent environmental regulations worldwide.

  There is a growing emphasis on optimizing resource utilization and energy efficiency within nitric acid production facilities. Manufacturers are investing in energy-efficient equipment and processes to reduce the overall carbon footprint of nitric acid production. For instance, improvements in process intensification and heat recovery systems are enhancing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions during production.

Key players in Global Concentrated Nitric Acid Market include:

• Yara International
• CF Industries Holdings, Inc
• EuroChem Group AG
• OCI N.V
• Hanwha Corporation
• BASF SE
• UBE Industries, Ltd
• LSB Industries, Inc
• Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd
• Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd

In this report, the profile of each market player provides following information:

• Company Overview and Product Portfolio
• Key Developments
• Financial Overview
• Strategies
• Company SWOT Analysis