Amino acids markets: Lysine anti-dumping investigation leading to large price spreads in EU
In Europe there is a wide price spread seen for lysine products. With the potential of anti-dumping measures, non-Chinese suppliers are returning to the market but with premium prices. Learn more in this week’s feed additives snapshot (week 45).
Q1 price offers have a significant spread now between Chinese and non-Chinese origins. FOB China prices for lysin and threonine are stable to slightly weakish. There is hardly any new buying activity seen at the moment. Methionin remains weakish, and so is the valine and tryptophan market. No changes there.
In partnership with Feed Additive Prices
Lysine
Especially in Europe, there is a wide range of prices seen for Q1 delivery. Chinese sources are under anti-dumping investigation and at the same time non-Chinese sources are returning to the EU market but with relatively high prices. In other regions, prices for lysine hcl are steady. FOB China prices are stable to slightly weaker but that is offset by firmer container prices for December shipments. The market is overall quiet and well contracted for Q4 and a good portion of Q1.
Threonine
The market is currently very quiet market in most regions. Prices FOB China are mostly stable, although discount possibilities are seen in case of considerable volume deals for December shipments. Some suppliers have changed their production lines from valine to threonine fermentation output. Container freight for November and December shipments are firmer again. Bottom line, it is expected that threonine prices will remain stable in the coming period. A good portion of Q1 still needs to be contracted.
DL-Methionine
One of the main Chinese manufacturers seems less interested in offering right now, but overall the market is well supplied. It is very quiet. Prices have been coming down step by step for several months now, and no changes are expected in that trend for the coming period. Q1 still needs to be contracted for the most part.
Tryptophan
The tryptophan market overall is weak. Supply is plentiful and prices continue to weaken in almost all regions for some months already. Both Chinese and non-Chinese manufacturers are competing for market share. No nearby change is foreseen in this trend. Q4 is mostly contracted, but Q1 is still mostly open.
Valine
Recently there has been some shift from valine production back to threonine production, as valine prices have become really low and threonine is more profitable. But that has not change the trend yet, so far. Prices are still low and there is still a fight for market share and an abundance of production capacity. It seems the steepest decline is over for now, but that can only be confirmed when there is actual demand for Q1 returning to the market. Q1 is mostly un-contracted.
