Amino acids market outlook: Stable prices, soft demand, tariff impacts vary

While some products like lysine HCl, threonine, and tryptophan have been spared from the latest US import tariffs, others - most notably methionine - face significant duties. Photo: Canva

The global amino acids market is entering a quiet phase, with prices generally stable to weak across key regions. While some products like lysine HCl, threonine, and tryptophan have been spared from the latest US import tariffs, others – most notably methionine – face significant duties. Despite this, market activity remains subdued, with demand soft, Q2 mostly contracted, and price movement limited for now.

Highlights:

Lysine (HCl): Exempt from new US import tariffs. The global market is stable to weak, with good availability and low demand, particularly in Asia and Europe. Prices remain very low, though stable this week FOB China.
Threonine: The market is quiet with stable pricing in the US and China. Also exempt from US tariffs. European prices are slightly weaker due to exchange rate impacts.
DL-Methionine: Subject to the highest new US tariffs, but prices haven’t yet increased due to existing stockpiles. Prices are stable in China and Europe, with favourable EUR-USD rates balancing previous increases. Plant maintenance announcements have had minimal market impact.
Tryptophan: Oversupply is keeping prices stable to weak globally. Exchange rates are contributing to lower local prices. US market is tariff-exempt. No major changes are expected in the short term.
Valine: Prices from China are falling due to oversupply. Western-origin valine remains stable to firm, with a growing price gap caused by an ongoing anti-dumping investigation. Prices in other regions, including the US (also tariff-exempt), are mostly stable.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

It seems that lysine hcl is exempt from the latest announced import tariffs into the USA. The overall market is stable to weak. Availability in regions like Asia and Europe is good but demand seems weaker, leading to potential further price weakness for Q3 contracts. Prices FOB China are stable this week, after a weak few weeks. Prices are very low. Q2 is mostly contracted by now.

Threonine

Very quiet market and prices in the USA and China have been stable for some time now. Threonine in the USA is exempt from the latest tariffs. Prices in Europe have been slightly weaker because of the recent EUR-USD rate. Q2 and a good portion of Q3 are already contracted and buyers remain on the sideline for now as they have no need to buy anything.

AMINO ACID PRICES: Here the market prices of 3 important amino acids are tracked – check it out…

DL-Methionine

Methionine in the USA is subject to the highest tariffs, but so far the price has not moved up yet, as there is still enough older stock in the pipeline. This may change in the future. Prices FOB China have been stable lately, after a period of slight increase. Prices in Europe have been stable as well, the slight recent increase has been offset now by favourable EUR-USD rates. Any form of plant maintenance announcement did not have any significant effect on the market price. Q2 is well contracted and a small portion of Q3 is as well.

Tryptophan

Stable to weak prices in most regions, as tryptophan is currently oversupplied. Also, currency exchange rates have led to lower local prices. Tryptophan in the USA is exempt from the latest tariffs. No trend changes are expected in the short term. Q2 is contracted.

Valine

Prices for Chinese origin have been coming down, as valine is oversupplied. Prices for Western origin in for example Europe have been stable to firm and the spread with Chinese origin is increasing due to the anti-dumping investigation. The price in other regions is mostly stable and in the USA, valine is exempt from the latest tariffs. Q2 is contracted.