First on the list was folic acid, which prices continued surge to new highs with supply lacking. By mid-September, prices have jumped 270% compared with February's market. Buyers withheld buying as a result, putting a lid on the price hikes.

Vitamin D3 market remained strong as buyers restocked depleted inventories, driving prices up by more than 40% within August and September. Since July, vitamin D3 prices have jumped tremendously by over 90%.

Tight supply strengthened the prices of biotin slowly but steadily starting late July, lifting prices by over 20% before September ended, whereas prices of vitamin B2 started to rise early September, accumulating 16% increments over the month.

Meanwhile, prices of other vitamin products were mostly flat during August and September.  Nonetheless, vitamin A and vitamin E markets, which had been on the slide since May, showed no signs of stabilising. Prices of both products were 15% lower respectively over the past two months. Inositol prices continued to dip, falling 20% within two months.

Vitamin C prices remained stable during early September, but producers began to cut prices later with aquaculture production dwindling. Prices were lower by over 2%% over the month.

Prices of sulphate additives remained mostly unchanged over the past two months. Supplies of sulphate additives were ample, hence resisting any price hikes despite improved demand.

As the demand for fertilisers picked up, prices of sulphuric acid and phosphate ore climbed during September, lifting the ingredients costs of calcium phosphate. Meanwhile, several producers in Yunnan halted operation due to the earthquake during August. Tightened supply, together with rising production costs, drive up prices by 6% to 7% over the month.

 

 

Entering October, a month where feed consumption usually slows due to high livestock release volumes in previous months, the sales of feed additives will be weak. Prices of feed additives are therefore set to stay flat or move lower, except for products that face severe shortages, for instance folic acid, vitamin B2.

The winding down of aquaculture production due to falling weather temperatures will further impede the demand for feed and hence vitamin C, exerting pressure on the market.

For calcium phosphate, decimated demand due to falling poultry inventories and limited piglet population will limit the upward scope of the market. However, with ingredients costs staying high and the production in Yunnan disrupted, prices should stay firm during October.