Citric Acid Price Trend and Forecast

Regional Price Overview

Get the latest insights on price movement and trend analysis of Citric Acid in different regions across the world (Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa).

Citric Acid Price Trend for the October - December of 2023

Asia

The Asian countries, particularly China, witnessed a decline in the production rates of their agricultural sector, and thus, to maintain the domestic demand for citric acid and other agricultural outputs, the region had to reduce its export rates. The traders wrinkled over this limited supply of the product, and instead of eyeing this as an opportunity to increase their price quotations, they themselves struggled with fluctuations in the food and pharma chemicals sectors.

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Europe

In European countries, the consumer sector seemed to be in a consistent battle with the rising cost of living, which in turn was a consequence of soaring rates of inflation. Among the other factors, inflationary pressure has clashed with the food industry for about three quarters now. The manufacturers quote that the increase in the costs of energy production and the limited supply of agricultural products have raised the input costs for them and have tied their hands. Thus, all these factors dictated the pricing fundamentals for citric acid.

North America

The North American Citric Acid market started the fourth quarter of 2023 with some stable movements but experienced surging prices from there. The prices were driven by increased international demand and restocking activities by consumers. This long-due uptick in the momentum of the food and beverages sector, along with positive movements in the pharmaceutical industries, pushed the citric acid price trend towards a higher note as the fourth quarter approached an end. Additionally, elevated energy costs also raised the production costs, which was eventually evident in the citric acid price trend.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Citric Acid are expected to be dependent on the oscillations in the downstream food and beverage industries along with economic challenges being faced by several regions of the world.

Citric Acid Price Trend for the July-September of 2023

Asia

The price trend of citric acid increased remarkably in Q3 of 2023. However, the quarter did not start on a positive note as during this phase; it struggled with a slow growth rate of China’s manufacturing industries and the feeble condition of the economy. But as the quarter progressed, the Chinese economy showed a strong recovery, and with the help of the rising cost of raw materials, the prices of citric acid took a bullish turn. In addition to this, the cost of energy also increased, raising the production cost, and along with this, the demand from downstream industries also increased their consumption and resulted in the positive outlook of the citric acid price graph.

Europe

The prices of citric acid in European countries remained stable throughout the third quarter of 2023, with slight month-on-month fluctuations. The price trajectory was majorly affected by the increase in inventory levels and poor demand scenarios from the downstream industries. In addition to this, the improvement in the industrial sector of China and other Asian countries decreased the export number from the European countries, hurting the trading sentiments of citric acid and leading to a decline in the prices of citric acid.

North America

In North America, the limited number of stocks and slowed production of citric acid amid its high demand resulted in the rise in the price trend of citric acid. Further, imports from China and other Asian countries became much more expensive as the US Dollar depreciated in comparison to the Asia currency. The North American economy also suffered from the increasing inflation and interest rates charged by banks, pushing the citric acid price graph in the downward direction.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend of Citric Acid are expected to mirror the sentiments shown by its demand from the downstream industries and the performance of the regional economy.

Citric Acid Price Trend for the First Half of 2023

Asia

The Asian citric acid market observed an inclining trend during the first half of 2023. The Indian domestic market recorded a jump of around 33% in March compared to the January values. This incline was due to the rising demand from the food & beverage industries.

The same surging trend was witnessed in China, where manufacturers struggled to keep up with the market demands. As the demands were not readily fulfilled, a gap was created in the market dynamics causing the prices to rise. The prices of citric acid monohydrate (food grade) averaged around 5580 RMB/MT, and that of anhydrous citric acid (food grade) averaged 6200 RMB/MT towards the end of June’23 in the Chinese domestic market.

Europe

The European region mimicked the price trend for citric acid, as seen in its Asian counterpart. The prices continued on an inclined trajectory as huge shortages were created amid high demands. The Asian exports got constrained because of high demands in the Chinese market, causing the European inventory stocks to deplete amidst a lack of supplies. The lowered operating levels of industries could not sustain the market inventories, causing the price trend to rise.

North America

The USA imports most of its citric acid from China. Since Chinese exports were curtailed because of high domestic demand, acute shortages were created in the American market. The rising demand from the downstream food additives industry caused the prices to incline. An incline of 5% was seen in the January-June values. The price of citric acid averaged around 3027 USD/MT (CIF, USA) in June’23.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend for citric acid are expected to remain high, swinging in the upcoming quarter. The increased market offtakes amid lowering inventories will likely keep the prices firm in the international market.

Citric Acid Price Trend for the Second Half of 2022

Asia

The citric acid price trend registered an upwards pattern in the Chinese domestic market. After dealing with the aftermath of covid related shutdowns and port congestion, the factories once again renewed their production. The downstream demand from the food and pharmaceuticals sectors turned positive after weeks of a tepid environment. Hence citric acid prices rose in the market.

The prices of Citric Acid Monohydrate 99.8% went from 6050 RMB/MT to 6500 RMB/MT towards the end of Q3. While the prices of citric acid food grade went from 6100 RMB/MT to 7000 RMB/MT. However, the trend turned bearish in the fourth quarter. The sufficient stocks in the market along with diminishing demand caused the prices to decline.

Europe

The rising energy costs and high-cost inflation were the main reasons why the European market contracted. The demand from the food industry drastically declined as it was difficult to remain competitive amid the high upstream cost pressure and dwindling profits.

North America

The price trend for citric acid were on the lower side of the scale in the US domestic market. The low availability of products considering the logistical issue coupled with low feedstocks prices and reduced offtakes caused the prices to decline.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, citric acid prices are expected to make a comeback in the coming months. The low market stocks coupled with new/fresh demand from the food & beverage industry will likely cause the prices to rise.

For the Second Quarter of 2022

Asia

The Asia Pacific region's citric acid market experienced no growth in Q2 2022. Due to the covid outbreak in the second week of April, delivery of goods were delayed. This worsened the nation's supply shortages and port backlogs.

The zero-covid policy caused transportation and logistical networks to fail, severely obstructing the movement of commodities across the nation and to important international shipping ports. Because suppliers and customers in the Chinese and Indian markets had enough stocks, offtakes from the downstream food and beverage sectors remained consistent throughout the quarter.

North America

The second quarter of 2022 saw conflicting market sentiments in the North American citric acid market as citric acid prices dropped in the first half of the quarter before rising in the second. Citric acid imports into the US, which were already experiencing significant port congestion, were drastically made worse by the reappearance of COVID in China's commercial areas. The downstream food and confectionary industries in the area continued to experience strong demand over time.

Europe

The market for citric acid in the European region showed a positive trend during the second quarter of 2022. Demand-wise, offtakes in the end-user food and beverage industries remained constant throughout the course of the quarter. To satisfy the entire downstream demand in the European market, local retailers had a plentiful supply of goods.

The situation between Russia and Ukraine increased transportation costs and the flow of commodities into Europe, but it also made it more difficult for exporting nations to conduct business. Due to a lack of empty cargo containers and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on global trade, the cost of shipping goods from China to Europe soared.

Analyst Insight

According to Procurement Resource, citric acid prices will likely increase in the coming months. Despite the falling upstream cost pressure, the rising demand from the pharmaceutical and medical sectors will soon offset the falling prices, eventually leading to higher prices.

For the Fourth Quarter of 2021

Corn prices in China continued to stay extremely high. As a result, the cost of producing citric acid rose. In addition to rising resource prices, ocean freight rates were also increasing. The average citric acid price in Australia in Q4 was noted to be 2035 USD/MT.

Because of the prolonged supply shortage, warehouses in Europe were empty, and any price increase was immediately accepted by the market. Germany recorded a mean price of 2093.5 USD/MT. Citric acid prices in the United States increased, owing to inflation and supply chain issues. As a result, they were hovering  around 2610 USD/MT in the country. The average price of the acid in Brazil was 1430 USD/MT.

For First, Second and Third Quarters of 2021

Asia

In 2021, the mean price in China in the first three quarters was 867.5 USD/MT, which started from 710 USD/MT and rose to 980 USD/MT. The export demand rose by the end of the second quarter. The price in India was recorded at 1316.66 USD/MT. The average price in Australia in the first three quarters was 1672.5 USD/MT.

Europe

Germany recorded the average price of 1721.55 USD/MT in the first three quarters. In Europe, the chemical’s market experienced a high demand as consumer requirements shifted to more natural products for skincare. As demand increased, the supply from China was limited, which drove up citric acid prices in Europe.

North America

Citric acid prices surged high in the North American region, as they witnessed a supply shortage and shipment delays. The mean price in the US in the first three quarters was 2444.44 USD/MT. Citric acid prices were soaring in the US due to supply shortages as production suffered owing to unfavourable weather conditions. The imports from China were also delayed and high freight costs drove up the prices even more.

Latin America

Brazil recorded a mean price of 1436.66 USD/MT in the first three quarters of the year.

For the Year 2020

Asia

In China, the average price of citric acid was 605.83 USD/MT in 2020. China was its third largest consumer in 2020. India is among the major consumers of citric acid. In India, the average price was 1176.66 USD/MT while it was 1839.16 USD/MT in Australia.

Europe

In Germany, the average price of the chemical was 1434.33 USD/MT while in the Netherlands, it was 1690 USD/MT.

North America

The average price was 2236.66 USD/MT in the US and the country was its second largest consumer in 2020.

Latin America

Brazil is one of the major consumers of the chemical. In Brazil, the average price was 1393.33 USD/MT.

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