Methionine remains very firm, while vitamin B3 and B2 continue to weaken

Threonine for Q4 is a bit tight in several regions due to limited stock and prices are firmer. But for Q1 it is still very calm. Tryptophan remains firm in the USA, but in other regions it is relatively stable. Valine is stable. Raw materials, such as corn, have been weakening in price.

D-calpan remains weak and every week the price declines a bit further. Vitamin B3 and B2 also remain weak, but the speed of decline is slower compared to some weeks ago. Vitamin E is mostly stable. Vitamin A stable to slightly weak.

In partnership with Feed Additive Prices

Lysine

The market is relatively quiet and prices have been stable for some weeks now, although at a higher level compared to earlier in 2023. Most of Q4 has been contracted, depending on the region. There is some interest for the first half of Q1, as there is no expectation that prices will decrease in the short term. Buyers are hesitant though to look at full Q1, as raw material prices have been weakening, so there is a wait-and-see attitude for the second half of Q1. Shipments for export are now only available for November and December, FOB China.

Threonine

Some activity is seen in for example Europe, where buyers are buying the remainder of their Q4 needs, or at least a part of it. This has led to a bit firmer market in some regions. Also FOB China, suppliers continue to ask for higher prices step by step every week. It has not led to Q1 contract buying as yet, at least nothing significant. As the prices continue to firm-up, the wait-and-see attitude for November and December shipments ex-China is increasing, as a potential stabilisation or even a slight decrease is expected by a group of buyers. Also, the weaker raw material market is contributing to that. One of the main Chinese manufacturers is introducing their expanded capacity volume on the market in a very controlled way. And often sold in combination with other amino acids. There is still a portion of Q4 that needs to be contracted in several regions.

DL-Methionine

The market in Europe and Asia is firm and a slight price increase is now also seen in the USA. Suppliers have collectively started to increase prices recently and one of the more significant manufacturers is said to be short in material until at least the end of the year. New expansion projects that were supposed to come online now have been pushed back. The market is active and prices have increased and while buyers were hesitant to book Q4 until recently, that attitude seems to be changing now. A good portion of Q4 is contracted, but a part still needs to be covered.

Tryptophan

Except for Europe, tryptophan is firm in other regions like the USA and China. Either nearby availability is tight and/or there is a strong desire from manufacturers to increase prices. There are some local capacity expansion plans though, but it may take some time for them to kick in. In Europe, things are stable and relatively calm. One of the main Western suppliers had announced a price increase recently, but no effect in the EU really so far. A good portion of Q4 has been contracted by now.

Valine

Recently the valine market felt a bit firmer in China, but on the other side, it was weakening a bit in Europe and it has been stable in the USA. Right now the market is very quiet and some additional buying is seen in Europe as the market seems to have bottomed out. A portion of Q4 is contracted, but clearly not all of it yet.

Vitamin E 50%

Manufacturers still offer a lot of resistance against further price decline. And compared to traders and resellers, the manufacturers are asking for higher prices. The market is currently very calm and mostly stable, at a relatively low price level, although not historically low. The S&D balance is still leading to stable to weak prices and recently, no change has been seen. A good portion of Q4 is contracted, but not all of it yet.

Vitamin A 1000

As one of the main Western manufacturers is trying to regain market share with their renewed capacity, some slight downward price pressure is seen. Apart from that, vitamin A 1000 has been low-priced nothing really has changed there recently. There is actually decent contract cover ahead as buyers did not expect significant further price decline and locked in some Q4 volume some time ago already.

Vitamin D3 500

Prices for vitamin D3 500 have been relatively stable over the past few weeks, although at a very low price level. The market feels very quiet. Some buyers have contracted ahead into Q4 as they feel stocks in general are low, and the price risk is manageable. Other buyers have a more spot buying approach as they see no upside potential in the coming period. Q4 is partly contracted, but there is generally a wait-and-see attitude towards further Q4 contracting.

Vitamin B2 80%

The speed of price decline is now considerably slower compared to some weeks ago. Especially in China and in the USA, prices are trending now more stable to slightly weakish still. In Europe, prices are stable and have been stable for months already. A good portion of Q4 was contracted already some time ago, but not all of it yet.

D-Calpan

The D-Calpan market is still weak and prices continue to fall. The availability in China is very good at the moment and prices are declining there step by step. Other regions are following. Current market prices are getting very low again, close to the low end of the range of the past 2-3 years. Wait and see attitude amongst buyers and not a lot of action seen, mostly bits and pieces of spot buying. Cover for Q4 is still limited in most regions.

Vitamin B3

Over the past few weeks, the price of vitamin B3 has been weak, although the speed of price decline is now slowing down. There is ongoing resistance from suppliers to lower prices, but the bottom line balance is a weak market. Local stock positions have improved and the raw material supply situation has improved as well. Many buyers have contracted vitamin B3 already some time ago for Q3 and Q4. Although a portion of Q4 still needs to be covered, but buyers indicate that they are in no hurry.