The global vitamin market remains under pressure, with several key products trading at historically low levels. While suppliers resist further price drops, weak demand and ample supply continue to weigh on the market. Contracting activity for Q4 is still limited, leaving the outlook uncertain.
Vitamin E 50%
In general, the market for vitamin E is still weakish. There has been a significant decline in prices already over the past year, and it is not clear yet of this decline will stop anytime soon. The market has become less volatile, though, and suppliers offer strong resistance against any further price drops. This has led to a slower speed of decline so far. At least at this moment, the market is stable to weakish. A significant portion of Q4 still needs to be contracted.
Vitamin A 1000
After a relatively long period of price decline, market prices have now reached historically low levels. It seems the speed of the decline is slowing down, and the resistance amongst suppliers to reduce prices further is increasing. On a global basis, there is enough supply, and in general, the demand has been less compared to other years. Also, new suppliers have entered the market, and a Western traditional supplier is coming back on the market step by step. Q3 is contracted, but buyers are still cautious about booking Q4 volumes.
Vitamin D3 500
In general, prices on a global basis are still much more elevated compared to previous years. Suppliers have managed to take up the price levels significantly. But as general demand is weak in most cases, some first cracks are now seen, and some suppliers are lowering prices in order to try to move volume. Other suppliers hold on to their earlier strategy and maintain high price offers. Some price spread is therefore still seen, but most actual transactions show a price level that is at the low end of the current range. Q3 is mostly contracted, but Q4 is still open in most cases.
D-Calpan
Stable to slightly weak market still and prices have become very low. There is an ample global supply of d-calpan, and that has led to oversupply and a fight over market share. Recently, it seems the strong price decline has stopped. Some buyers are carefully starting to investigate to potentially take longer positions rather than buying spot. Q3 is mostly contracted, but a large portion of Q4 is still open.
Vitamin B3
Recently, there has been a huge sales pressure on vitamin B3, and there still is. Especially, Chinese sources are keen to move volume, and the market is generally oversupplied. Prices have reached super low levels, although the speed of decline has been less recently. Some buyers are now slowly starting to assess their risk and may consider taking longer-term forward positions, although right now, no concrete action is seen yet. Q3 is well contracted, but Q4 and onwards are still wide open.
