October 29, 2008
China's vitamin C market relatively quiet
An eFeedLink Exclusive
Price summary
The demand for vitamin C was low in the past two weeks with slight price variation.
Asking prices for vitamin C by the four major producers were between RMB110-120/kg while actual transacted prices were lower. Prices by some small and medium producers were lower. Market prices were in the range of RMB102-110/kg. Lower priced products were eagerly sought for export.
Most producers were producing small quantity of coated ascorbic acid and were supplying from existing inventories to meet market demand. Ex-factory quotes by major producers in Beijing and Zhejiang were mainly at RMB100-110/kg while some in Taige, Anhui would offer lower than RMB95/kg. Average transacted prices in the market were between RMB95-105/kg.
Market transacted prices for L-ascorbate-2-phosphate products have fallen to RMB45- 48/kg. Some customers concluded deals at prices lower than RMB44/kg.
|
Transacted prices of vitamin C products in China | ||||
|
Region |
Vitamin C contents (%) |
Prices as of Oct 10 (RMB/kg) |
Prices as of Oct 24 (RMB/kg) |
Price Changes (RMB/kg) |
|
Vitamin C Raw Materials | ||||
|
Guangdong |
98 |
101-108 |
101-108 |
- |
|
Jiangsu |
99 |
99-107 |
99-107 |
- |
|
Shanxi |
99 |
99-106 |
99-106 |
- |
|
Shandong |
99 |
99-107 |
99-107 |
- |
|
Anhui |
99 |
99-107 |
99-107 |
- |
|
Hebei |
99 |
99-107 |
99-107 |
- |
|
Liaoning |
99 |
99-107 |
99-107 |
- |
|
Coated Ascorbic Acid | ||||
|
Guangdong |
93 |
93-105 |
92-104 |
-1 |
|
Zhejiang |
93 |
92-105 |
90-105 |
-2 to 0 |
|
Anhui |
93 |
92-102 |
90-100 |
-2 |
|
Hebei |
97 |
90-100 |
90-98 |
-2 to 0 |
|
Jiangsu |
97 |
93-102 |
92-101 |
-1 |
|
Liaoning |
97 |
92-100 |
91-99 |
-1 |
|
L-Ascorbate-2-Phosphate | ||||
|
Whole China market |
Locally produced (35%) |
46-49 |
44-47 |
-2 |
| All prices are representative and are for reference only. RMB1=US$0.1460 (Oct 29) | ||||
Exports
In the past two weeks, quotes for the export market were US$15.00 and above. Quotes for bigger export quantities were lower by US$1-2/kg while some producers would offer long- term customers prices as low as US12.00- 13.00/kg.
Market forecast
Vitamin C prices are likely to fall in the longer term with steady supply. However, prices are unlikely to fall in the near term as small and medium producers have only limited stocks to offer and the four major producers are not lowering their quotes.
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