Amino acids market: Weaker prices can now be seen

The methionine market remains very calm and prices have been coming down gradually in the past few months. Photo: Canva

Although lysine and threonine prices are mostly stable on a FOB China basis, first signs of weaker price offers is now seen for Q4 and that is mainly driven by weakening container freight rates. Learn more in this week’s feed additives snapshot (week 36).

The methionine market remains very calm and prices have been coming down gradually in the past few months. No changes seen on tryptophan, it is mostly stable now. Valine and arginine are stable to weak at very low price levels.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

The market is very quiet. Although prices FOB China are mostly stable, in other regions the price has come down slightly for Q4 offers as container rates are weakening. Prompt availability in Europe and to some extent in the US is still poor. Shipments have been constantly delayed ex-China, and no nearby signs of improvement are seen for that. Some demand is seen in Europe for Q1 2025 deliveries. Still, as there is no outcome yet on the potential anti-dumping regulation against Chinese origin, suppliers are not keen to offer yet. Q3 is contracted and a good portion of Q4 is as well.

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

Threonine

Prices FOB China remain very stable and no nearby changes are expected as availability locally in China is OK to tight. The market in other regions is very quiet and a good portion of Q4 still needs to be contracted but there is a wait-and-see attitude. Container freight prices are weakening and that may have some effect on October shipments ex China, leading to lower prices for threonine. Buyers are covered for most of Q3 and a small portion of Q4.

DL-Methionine

Very quiet market, with a big portion of the summer plant maintenance finalised by now. Stock levels seem healthy, demand is relatively sluggish and supply seems ok. Prices have been coming down slowly in several regions. A scenario could be that in case of further price decline, suppliers start to offer resistance, but that is speculative. No major changes are expected in the short-term. Q3 is contracted ahead and there is a wait-and-see attitude for Q4.

Tryptophan

There is not a lot of movement seen in the tryptophan market currently. Prices are mostly stable, with a slightly weaker tone for Q4 in most regions. But at the same time, suppliers are indicating that the market should be firmer, but buyers are not reacting to it. Overall the tryptophan market seems to stabilise and no major changes are seen and/or expected. Q3 is contracted and a portion of Q4 as well.

Valine

Prices have been coming down for months already. But it seems that the willingness on a FOB China basis to go lower is not so strong anymore, at least at the moment. Due to the recent weakening container freight rate, and the ample supply in general, there is downward pressure seen on valine in other regions though. Prices have become very low though, something to keep an eye on. The market is very quiet at the moment and only small spot buying activity is seen. Most of Q3 is contracted, but nothing significant further ahead.