February 24, 2004

China's Vitamin C Prices Update - Local Vitamin C Prices in China Slide Marginally; Higher Price Offers for Exports (February 23, 2004)

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report
 

Recent quotations for China's vitamin C (98% contents) generally remain stable, albeit a fall in the price quotes of some producers. For local sales, bulk offers for vitamin C by the major pharmaceutical producers in China range between RMB75-95/kg, while the general transacted prices for large transaction average between RMB75-85/kg. On the whole, prices of vitamin C in China have fallen slightly, compare to the previous week.

According to traders, vitamin C in the Guangdong region (over 98% contents) is currently quoted at RMB90/kg and generally transacted at around RMB85/kg, which is mostly unchanged from the previous week. Bulk purchases of vitamin C in the Shanghai region (99% contents) are mostly concluded at around RMB75/kg, down by RMB5/kg from the previous week.

In the Jiangsu region, the ex-warehouse prices of vitamin C (99% contents) hover around RMB95/kg, while the general transacted prices stand around RMB90/kg. Vitamin C producers in the Jiangsu region revealed that the higher price quotes are due to their better quality.

In the Hebei region, the ex-warehouse price of vitamin C (99% contents) range between RMB80-90/kg, while the general transacted prices hover around RMB85/kg. Bulk purchases are mostly concluded at RMB80/kg.

Meanwhile, phosphate vitamin C (35% vitamin C) is currently quoted at RMB60-65/kg and generally transacted at around RMB60/kg. Locally produced coated vitamin C (approx. 97%) is generally quoted at between RMB90-100/kg and transacted at between RMB85-90/kg. Imported coated vitamin C (97% contents) by a local distributor is reportedly quoted at RMB108/kg and transacted at RMB105/kg, a fall of RMB3/kg from the previous week.

Stable vitamin C (35% contents) of the same brand is currently quoted at RMB87/kg and generally transacted at around RMB83/kg, remained unchanged versus the previous week's prices. These are all processed products of vitamin C; they are able to withstand high temperatures, and can be processed as ingredients in animal feed. These products are also widely used in aqua feed production.

China is the world's largest producer and exporter of vitamin C. Vitamin C (approx. 97% contents) produced by major Chinese pharmaceutical groups is exported to the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia, with different price quotes for different markets.

Vitamin C exports to the US is currently quoted at a relatively low of about US$9.50/kg, while those to other countries are generally quoted at around US$9.70/kg, a slight increase over previous week's. Currently, there is a high demand for vitamin C by overseas markets.