Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects

    Hormuz Strait closure and sulphur shock: implications for copper leach projects

    April 14, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Hormuz Strait closure and sulphur shock: implications for copper leach projects

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries over 40% of global sulphur exports, combined with China’s 2.7‑million‑tonne annual sulphuric acid export ban from 1 May, is driving sulphuric acid prices above $500/t and threatening about 20% of global copper supply that depends on acid leaching. Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa‑Kakula complex, hosting Africa’s largest copper smelter, produced 117,871 tonnes of high‑strength sulphuric acid and 71,417 tonnes of copper anode in Q1, giving it a cost and supply advantage as a net acid seller. Despite this, Ivanhoe has cut 2026 copper anode guidance to 290,000–330,000 tonnes and is implementing contingency measures, including advanced diesel purchases, to sustain operations during the US‑led war on Iran.

    Technical Brief

    • Closure of the Strait of Hormuz removes about 50% of global seaborne sulphur supply, tightening acid feedstock.
    • China’s 1 May export ban targets sulphuric acid by-product from domestic copper and zinc smelters.
    • Asia’s largest economy had been exporting ~2.7 Mt/y of sulphuric acid, with Chile as top destination.
    • Phosphate fertiliser production consumes 54% of global sulphuric acid demand, versus 10% for metals and mining.
    • Within metals and mining, copper smelting accounts for 62 Mt of an 89 Mt sulphuric acid consumption base.
    • Realised sulphuric acid prices have already exceeded US$500/t under current supply constraints.
    • Kamoa-Kakula’s smelter produced 63,671 t copper in anode plus 117,871 t high-strength sulphuric acid in Q1.
    • Additional 7,746 t of copper in blister were produced at the Lualaba smelter in Kolwezi during the quarter.
    • Kamoa-Kakula’s resource stands at ~1.3 Bt grading 2.65% Cu, containing ~34 Mt copper metal.
    • Ivanhoe’s contingency planning for the US-led war on Iran includes forward purchasing of diesel for operations continuity.

    Our Take

    Ivanhoe Mines has been a recurring name in our recent coverage, from Kamoa-Kakula guidance cuts in early April 2026 to US-facing offtake discussions for Kipushi concentrates, so any disruption to sulphur or sulphuric acid flows via the Middle East would compound an already complex logistics and marketing picture for the company’s African assets.

    In our database of 1212 Mining stories, copper consistently appears alongside critical-mineral themes and US strategic stockpiling moves (e.g. the February 2026 US$12 billion stockpile piece), suggesting that any shock to Middle East sulphur exports could quickly be framed not just as a cost issue but as a supply-security concern for Western copper and fertiliser buyers.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    Sandvik’s SEK 175m LKAB Malmberget order: flowsheet notes for plant engineers

    Sandvik has secured a SEK 175 million order from LKAB to supply crushing and screening equipment for the new iron ore sorting plant at Malmberget, booked in Q2 2026. The package includes cone crushers, double-deck screens and vibrating feeders, forming the core of the primary and secondary sizing circuit. For plant designers and process engineers, the deal signals continued reliance on high-capacity, fixed crushing lines for Nordic underground iron ore operations rather than modular or fully mobile alternatives.

    Eurasian Resources–BAUER vertical bauxite mining: design and planning notes for engineers
    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    Eurasian Resources–BAUER vertical bauxite mining: design and planning notes for engineers

    Eurasian Resources Group’s Aluminium of Kazakhstan unit has commissioned BAUER rotary drilling equipment at open pit No. 4 of the Vostochno-Ayatskoye Krasno-Oktyabrskoye bauxite mine to trial what is described as the world’s first vertical bauxite extraction project. The system uses vertical rotary drilling rather than conventional bench blasting and truck–shovel methods, aiming to access deeper ore zones within the existing pit footprint. For geotechnical and mine planners, the approach could alter pit slope design, drilling patterns and ground support requirements if adopted at scale.

    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    ExxonMobil–Teck renewable diesel deal: haul fleet implications for mine operators

    ExxonMobil has finalised a supply agreement with Teck for Esso Ethos+ Renewable Diesel R100 in Canada and completed the first delivery to Teck’s Highland Valley Copper (HVC) operations in British Columbia. The 100% renewable diesel will be produced by Imperial Oil’s Strathcona refinery, which is being upgraded to manufacture bio-based fuels for heavy-duty applications such as mine haul trucks and support fleets. For mine operators, the deal signals growing availability of drop-in low-carbon fuels compatible with existing diesel engines and fuel infrastructure.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy