Chemical Profile & Technical Properties of Ammonium Sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt with the chemical formula (NH₄)₂SO₄. It is widely commercialized as an essential source of plant nutrition and an industrial synthesis reagent. Due to its balanced composition of 21% nitrogen in ammoniacal form and 24% sulfur in sulfate form, it is uniquely suited for alkaline and sulfur-deficient soils.
(NH₄)₂SO₄
CAS Number: 7783-20-2. Molar Mass: 132.14 g/mol.
White Crystalline Solid
Odorless crystals or granules. Density: 1.77 g/cm³. Melts with decomposition at 235–280°C.
21% N + 24% S
Delivers readily bioavailable ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄⁺) and sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻).
pH 5.0 – 5.5
1% aqueous solution is slightly acidic, serving to buffer high-pH caliche soils.
Core Commercial & Industrial Applications
Ammonium sulfate commands broad industrial demand beyond standard agriculture due to its unique chemical characteristics:
Agriculture & Fertilizers
Applied directly to soil or blended into NPK formulations. Extensively utilized in Turkish tea plantations (Rize/Black Sea), tobacco (Aegean), rice paddies (Thrace), and intensive greenhouse vegetable cultivation.
Chemical Synthesis & MMA
Functions as an essential raw material or high-volume byproduct in Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) manufacturing, acrylic polymer synthesis, dye auxiliaries, and water purification reagents.
Food & Fermentation
Authorized under food additive codes (E517) as a yeast nutrient in industrial dough fermentation, bakery baking improvers, and winemaking processes.
Biochemistry & Laboratories
Universally employed in protein precipitation ("salting out"), DNA/RNA isolation buffers, crystallization experiments, and analytical chromatography assays.
Metal Surface Processing
Utilized in industrial metallurgy for metal plating bath buffering, rust removal solutions, and zinc/copper galvanic finishing treatments.
Fire Retardants & Paper
Lowers the combustion temperature of combustible materials, acting as an effective chemical flame retardant for fiberboards, textiles, and paper pulp.
China's Global Market Leadership in Ammonium Sulfate
China is the world's undisputed leading producer and exporter of ammonium sulfate, generating an annual export value in excess of $1.5 billion USD. This competitive dominance stems from extensive coking coal byproduct recovery, large-scale caprolactam production lines, and low synthetic input costs. Key global chemical groups include Capital Group, Jinmao Group, Liuzhou Chemical, Sichuan Lutianhua, and Shanxi Tianji.
| Rank | Export Destination | Annual Export Value (USD) | Key Demand Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil | $420M | Massive soybean and sugarcane plantation fertilization |
| 2 | 🇮🇳 India | $310M | Intensive rice, wheat, and cash crop cultivation |
| 3 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $180M | Mekong Delta paddy fields and robusta coffee estates |
| 4 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | $150M | Industrial palm oil, rubber, and agricultural plantations |
| 5 | 🇹🇷 Turkey | $95M | Agricultural nitrogen input & MMA industrial synthesis |
| 6 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | $80M | Rice cultivation, natural rubber, and fruit orchards |
| 7 | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $65M | Palm oil estates and commercial fertilizer blending |
| 8 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | $55M | High-density cereal grain and jute crop nutrition |
| 9 | 🇲🇽 Mexico | $45M | Commercial horticulture, corn, and food industry buffering |
| 10 | 🇵🇭 Philippines | $40M | Tropical agricultural crops and aquaculture pond preparation |
Turkey's Ammonium Sulfate Market: Capacity & Import Reliance
Turkey consumes approximately 250,000 to 300,000 metric tons of ammonium sulfate annually. Leading domestic producers, such as BAGFAŞ, İGSAŞ, and Toros Tarım, produce between 100,000 and 150,000 metric tons per year, resulting in a persistent domestic structural deficit that must be fulfilled via maritime imports.
HS 3102.21.00.00.00
Assigned under Chapter 31 (Fertilizers). Agricultural imports typically enter at a 0% customs tariff rate, subject to general VAT and chemical registration standards.
China Dominance (~$95M)
China supplies the bulk of Turkey's total import volume, followed by specialized European grades from Germany (~$25M), Russia (~$20M), and Belgium (~$15M).
Mersin & İskenderun
Bulk carriers sailing from Tianjin, Shanghai, or Qingdao discharge primarily into southern Mediterranean industrial deep-water terminals for prompt pipeline and rail distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Turkey Ammonium Sulfate Trade
What is ammonium sulfate and what are its primary industrial uses? ▼
Ammonium sulfate, with the chemical formula (NH4)2SO4, is an inorganic salt containing 21% nitrogen (N) in ammoniacal form and 24% sulfur (S). It is primarily used as a synthetic fertilizer for alkaline soils, but also serves as a critical raw material in chemical synthesis (MMA/Methyl Methacrylate), food yeast nutrients, pharmaceutical protein purification, and flame-retardant applications.
What volume of ammonium sulfate did Turkey import from China in June 2023? ▼
According to official customs Bill of Lading (B/L) manifests, Turkey imported a total of 29,389,950 kg (approximately 29,390 metric tons) across 5 maritime shipments between June 6 and June 22, 2023. The largest single consignment was 20,000,000 kg of bulk MMA-grade ammonium sulfate.
What does "MMA GRADE" indicate in customs shipment records? ▼
MMA Grade indicates ammonium sulfate generated as a high-purity co-product during the synthesis of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), or intended as a raw chemical input for downstream polymer and acrylic manufacturing. In the analyzed period, MMA-grade bulk shipments accounted for 96.5% (28,360,000 kg) of the total import volume.
What customs tariff code (HS Code) applies to ammonium sulfate in Turkey? ▼
Ammonium sulfate is classified under HS Code 3102.21.00.00.00 (Chapter 31: Fertilizers, Heading 3102: Mineral or chemical fertilizers, nitrogenous). Agricultural imports typically benefit from a 0% customs duty, subject to value-added tax (VAT) regulations and specialized chemical inspection protocols.
Why is China the dominant global exporter of ammonium sulfate? ▼
China is the world's leading producer and exporter of ammonium sulfate, exceeding 5 million metric tons of annual export capacity. This dominant position is supported by abundant coking coal infrastructure, cost-competitive caprolactam and MMA synthesis facilities, and extensive bulk shipping logistics connecting Tianjin and Shanghai to global deep-water ports.