Lysine prices continue to firm, vitamin B3 and D-Calpan have a softer tone

The threonine market is still very quiet. One of the main manufacturers started producing in August in the their new plant. Prices are relatively stable. Methionine has stopped declining and spot prices are stable in Europe and Asia. Bit firmer even in China. But in the US the market is stable to weak still. Tryptophan is firmer in the USA, but until now mostly stable in other regions. Valine stable.

Vitamin E was a bit firmer recently, but has turned very quiet and stable again. Vitamin A market is still the same, quiet and low priced. Vitamin B3 is stabilising in several regions, even a bit weaker on a FOB China basis. D-Calpan is weaker in several regions. The overall vitamin market remains very quiet.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

Corn prices have been firmer recently in China and that has led to higher production costs for the fermentation-based Chinese amino acids manufacturers. But in reality, the new Q4 and Q1 demand for lysine hcl is not particularly strong and although prices have firmed recently, the momentum for further increase is not really there yet / anymore. The market is mostly quiet and prices are stable to slightly firmer. By now, most of Q3 and a decent portion of Q4 are contracted, and even some Q1 2024 cover is seen.

Threonine

A very quiet and stable market currently. Additional/new capacity has come online in August from a major Chinese manufacturer and they are trying to move volume in combination sales with other amino acids, which is not very successful at this moment. Buyers are holding off new threonine purchases for the time being. The price is relatively low but has been lower earlier this year and that has led to a wait-and-see attitude and at the same time there is also already cover in place for Q3 and a good portion of Q4.

DL-Methionine

The spot market in most regions remains stable to slightly firmer. The price decline seen earlier this year has stopped Except for the US market, where the methionine prices remain stable to weakish. There is strong resistance from manufacturers to decrease prices further. The market is relatively quiet and end-users are contracted ahead for the coming period. Most of Q3 is contracted some time ago already and some minor interest for Q4 recently.

Tryptophan

Still, a firmer market locally in the US, as inventory seems low and that has fuelled spot and early Q4 prices. Other regions remain stable so far, although there is an ongoing desire of manufacturers to increase prices. Q3 is well contracted and as prices are relatively low, buyers took a bit Q4 cover as well.

Valine

It is said that FOB China prices are firming, but it doesn’t really show yet in higher prices being actually paid. Also in the various regions the price is either stable or even a bit weakish. There is a strong desire from manufacturers to increase prices due to higher cost prices of raw materials, for example corn. New capacity from traditional suppliers has been introduced step by step, not disturbing the balance too much. More new capacity will follow in 2023-2024. Q3 is largely contracted, and in some cases, some Q4 cover has been taken as well.

Vitamin E 50%

A combination of summer plant maintenance and an ongoing desire from manufacturers to increase the price, has led to a stop in price decline and even led to a slightly firmer price last month. But momentum seems to have gone as prices are stable again and the actual buying activity is very low. The market has turned calm again it seems. Q3 is well contracted and a portion of Q4 is as well.

Vitamin A 1000

Absolutely no changes seen and the vitamin A market continues to be very static and stable in terms of prices, still at the low end of the historical price range. Q3 and a portion of Q4 are contracted by now.

Vitamin D3 500

A stable and quiet market, moving at a low price level. No significant activity is seen, mostly bits and pieces of spot business. Q3 is mostly contracted but there is a more wait-and-see attitude towards Q4 still.

Vitamin B2 80%

The market seems to have lost its bullish sentiment for now and has turned really quiet. During the recent run-up in Asia and USA, contracts were contracted and now it starts to be quiet again. Prices are still higher compared to some months ago but seem to have stopped increasing further. In Europe, prices have stayed stable to slightly firmer. Q3 is contracted and a good portion of Q4 is as well.

D-Calpan

Especially FOB China, prices have been weakening for D-Calpan. The main manufacturers would actually like to move away from this low level, but with new capacity coming online and slightly less demand compared to previous years, so far the price is still an important instrument to keep market share. It is relatively quiet in the market lately. Some regional differences are seen in terms of price spread, but overall the market is stable to weak. 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

Slightly weaker prices FOB China are seen again this week, compared to previous weeks. In other regions the market is stable and prices have not really changed significantly and are still at a higher level compared to the beginning of this year. Raw materials remain tight and expensive, but at the same time, the market is also a bit more relaxed and relatively well contracted ahead. A portion of Q4 is still to be contracted.