EU vitamin producer restructuring, while amino acids enter quiet summer mode

Prices for threonine have been offered lower compared to previous weeks, mostly as part of special deals. Official prices remain high. But as a Chinese producer comes with more material, sales pressure is increasing. Methionine, tryptophan and valine are currently pretty stable.

The recent communication by a major European vitamin manufacturer about their optimising and cost reduction project, has received a lot of attention in the market. No direct impact seen on market prices of vitamin E and A, but it will be interesting to see how things will play out in 2023/2024. Vitamin B3 remains firm ex China. Apart from that, the vitamin market is mostly quiet.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

By now, most of Q3 and a decent portion of Q4 are contracted. There was some talk last week about firmer prices ex China, but so far nothing significant is seen. There is a strong desire from suppliers to increase the price and move away from the low prices level, but the demand seems unsupportive right now to do so. The summer is still long though and mostly quiet, so it has to be seen what the price will do. Stable FOB China prices for some time now, at a low level, have triggered buyers to assess risk and in some cases take forward contract cover for late Q3 and into Q4.

Threonine

The market has gone very quiet now, after a relatively active period in May and June. Some fresh offers are now seen, although limited, at a discount compared to previous weeks. If that is a structural trend, is too early to say. Q3 is contracted and a small portion of Q4 as well and there is an absolute wait-and-see attitude now for new purchases.

DL-Methionine

At least in Europe, spot prices are showing some decline compared to previous weeks. The market is very quiet and mostly contracted for Q3. Suppliers have been offering material in some cases for Q4, but buyers are not really tempted to do anything yet as there seems to be a good availability and more capacity is expected to come on the market at a similar relatively weak demand pattern. So, mostly stable prices, a bit weaker at least in EU, and no significant activity is seen at the moment.

Tryptophan

After a period of price increase in China, now some price decline is seen there. Other regions, like the US and EU show a stable price and a calm market for some time now already. Prices in Europe did go up slightly this week, but nothing significant. Q3 is well contracted and as prices are relatively low, buyers look a bit at some Q4 cover, but no real action see there yet.

Valine

The recent price decline in most regions seems to have stopped. A more positive consumption is expected in several regions, in Q4 2023. New capacity from traditional suppliers has been introduced step by step, not disturbing the balance too much. Overall the recent price decline seems to have stopped and feels more stable now. Q3 is largely contracted, and in some cases, some Q4 cover has been taken as well.

Vitamin E 50%

In line with Vitamin A, a strong message was communicated last week by a main European vitamin manufacturer also for vitamin. They also do not see any change on the demand side of the market in the short term for vitamin E and this product is also included in their optimisation and cost reduction project. So far, the market has not reacted and prices have remained unchanged. The market feels very calm and prices are stable to weakish. A Chinese manufacturer has stopped offering new prices now. Q3 is well contracted and a portion of Q4 is as well.

Vitamin A 1000

One of the main vitamin A manufacturers in Europe has given a clear statement last week. They do not see any change on the demand side of the market in the short term and have decided to optimise the production side and cut costs and have a more commodity-type of approach toward vitamin A. So far, the market has not really reacted and prices have remained unchanged. That is mostly because longer-term contracts have been concluded ahead, due to the low market price. Q3 and a portion of Q4 are contracted by now. The market is quiet and the price is relatively stable, at a low level.

Vitamin D3 500

The market feels quiet and is well contracted ahead in most cases. Some buyers have gone back to their spot purchase strategy. Suppliers continue to try to increase prices or at least stop the decline. Q3 is mostly contracted but there is a more wait-and-see attitude towards Q4.

Vitamin B2 80%

An ongoing desire by Chinese manufacturers to increase the price. For some time no prices were offered at all, but that has changed and suppliers have returned to the market. As a result, the market has indeed been firmer in the last few weeks and higher prices have been paid. But momentum seems to slow down and the market has contracted ahead by now. In other regions, some firmer prices were also seen, but material was contracted already well into Q3. In Europe, prices have stayed stable, but buyers are keeping an eye on it and potentially expect some increase as well.

D-Calpan

Several buyers report keeping a closer eye on d-calpan as prices continue to stabilise a bit currently, although the overall trend remains weakish. The current price level is relatively low. More resistance is seen from manufacturers to lower the price further, but ultimately they also do not want to lose too much market share. There is a decent contract cover for Q3, but some buyers also continue to buy hand-to-mouth as they expect even lower prices.

Vitamin B3

Prices in China continue to be firm and several price increase announcements have been made last week by manufacturers. A lack of raw materials and the higher price of those materials are the main reason for vitamin B3 to increase in price as well is said. As other regions have already contracted Q3 and a portion of Q4, there is no new demand seen and less pressure on the price. Unless the contract execution will partly fail, that could change things. In most regions, the market is calmer now.