Amino acids markets: Moving into wait-and-see mode as container rates continue to decline

Prices in export regions are a bit weaker as container rates are coming down. Photo Canva

On a FOB China basis, prices are mostly stable for lysine, although threonine tends to be a bit firmer this week. Some Chinese suppliers are now sold out for October shipment and are moving to November shipments. Prices in export regions are a bit weaker as container rates are coming down. Learn more in this week’s feed additives snapshot (week 38).

The methionine market is quite static at the moment in terms of price movement and only very limited transactions are seen. No changes seen on tryptophan, it is mostly stable to weak right now. Valine and arginine are stable to weak at very low price levels.

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Lysine

FOB China prices have been stable for some weeks already, and shipments for October are starting to be limited and moving towards November now. Consumption is relatively good in most regions. Several traders in Europe have started to buffer material, in speculation of potential anti-dumping import duties in 2025 and they are not keen to sell significant volumes anymore for Q4 delivery. Container freight prices ex China are weakening and that most likely will put downward pressure on prices for later this year. The market is quiet and mostly contracted for Q4.

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

Threonine

Stable to even slightly firmer prices on a FOB China basis this week. But in other regions, the price is stable to slightly weaker as container freight is coming down and that weighs on the end price in for example Europe. Buyers do need to contract some material still for Q4 but have a wait-and-see attitude. The market is quiet now.

DL-Methionine

The weaker market seems to have recently turned into a more stable one. Buyers have contracted most of Q4 by now. No significant changes are expected in the short term as availability seems fine and no disruptions or significant plant maintenance is mentioned on the supply side. The market is quiet now.

Tryptophan

Weaker market in several regions and hardly any activity is seen. The new demand for tryptophan is not ample. The market is quiet now, apart from some spot buying. Q4 is not fully contracted yet.

Valine

Prices continue to decline on FOB China basis and locally in the regions. The lowest historical price points are seen now. There is ongoing sales pressure and suppliers want to move material. In 2024 a significant new volume came on the market and suppliers are fighting for market share. For now, the market is weak in all regions and there are no signs of things turning around anytime soon. A relatively large portion of Q4 still needs to be contracted.