Vitamin markets: Some price increases seen but demand is sluggish

Vitamin E suppliers continue to try to increase prices and to a certain extend that is working. Photo: Canva

Vitamin E suppliers continue to try to increase prices and to a certain extend that is working. There is some price increase seen but at the same time there are already long term contracts concluded which makes the demand for new volume sluggish. Same story for vitamin D3 500. Learn more in this week’s feed additives snapshot (week 26)

Vitamin A 1000 is stable at the moment and the number of transactions very low. Vitamin B1 remains firm. The container freight rate increases start to weigh as well on relatively low priced vitamins, such as cholin chlorid, which is firming for Chinese origin.

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Vitamin E 50%

Suppliers continue offering higher prices in another attempt to increase the market price. In some cases the price is moving up, but nothing significant so far. Many buyers have contracted their vitamin E forward recently, or even some time ago already. Summer plant maintenance for several suppliers will start soon or has already started. High container freight costs add to the final vitamin E price as well. The market remains relatively quiet though and prices are stable to slightly firmer in the case of actual transactions. Q3 is mostly contracted and a portion of Q4 is as well.

Vitamin A 1000

Despite several attempts to increase the price, the market has been relatively stable and calm for some weeks now. Some market participants indicate that stocks are low, material is delayed and container freight is weighing on the price. But so far the price has been stable lately and buyers are not reacting really to any of these arguments/facts. A good portion of Q3 is contracted by now.

VITAMIN PRICES Here the market prices of 3 important vitamins are tracked – check it out…

Vitamin D3 500

Suppliers have a strong desire to increase prices after a long period of relatively depressed market prices. New price offers are indeed higher compared to several weeks ago. However, the actual market transactions are few and do not represent an actual firmer market so far. Many buyers already have pending contracts well into Q4 at old price levels and are not in the market as such for more material. Container freight price increases have some impact, but nothing significant. The market feels quiet, despite the delays ex-China and higher container freight costs and higher fob China prices. A good portion of Q3 is contracted already, some overlap into Q4 as well.

Vitamin B2 80%

Recently, the market in Europe became a bit firmer due to poorer availability at local EU suppliers. But that situation seems to have stabilised at a slightly higher price level compared to some weeks ago. In other regions, the prices are mostly stable, although there is a continuous desire for manufacturers to increase prices. But demand is not supportive enough. A good portion of Q3 is already contracted for mostly strategic reasons.

D-Calpan

Despite the higher container costs, the end price of d-calpan in the regions is not moving really. The market feels stable at a low price level in most regions at the moment as supply in general is ample and suppliers are keen to maintain market share and move stock. Already a good cover ahead is taken into Q3 for strategic reasons.

Vitamin B3

Stable market and no significant changes seen and/or expected. compared to previous weeks. Higher container freight costs do not have a big impact on the final product price in this case. Demand is still said to be sluggish, so a significant price increase in the short term is not very likely. There is cover taken into Q3 and in some cases even further at a time when prices were lower compared to today.

Biotin

No changes are seen in the biotin market at the moment. Supply is ample and long-term contracts have been concluded and/or pending. Prices remain historically low. A good portion of Q3 is contracted and in some cases, buyers took long-term contracts well into late 2024.

Vitamin C 35% mono

Through a reduction in output, extended maintenance periods, and recent price increase announcements, suppliers try to increase prices. Until recently, the vitamin C market was a bit weaker and it is now to be seen if this renewed bullishness by the suppliers will do anything in the market. Prices are still at a higher level though, compared to a year ago. Q3 and partially Q4 are mostly contracted based on lower-priced old contracts.