Potassium carbonate prices remained firm in China and India during September 2025. Stable feedstock prices, strong supply chains, and modest downstream demand provided a month of price stability without any major shocks or spikes reported.
Potassium carbonate prices remained firm in China and India during September 2025. Stable feedstock prices, strong supply chains, and modest downstream demand provided a month of price stability without any major shocks or spikes reported.
Asian Potassium Carbonate Market Maintains Stability Amid Steady Supply Chains
China's potassium carbonate market was characterized by price stability during September 2025 supported by steady supply and subdued demand. On the supply side feedstock Potassium chloride costs remained flat, allowing producers to manufacture without cost-side uncertainty. Industrial activity improved towards the second half of Q3 with improved factory output and operation efficiency supporting the supply base. Supply chain performance also improved, with reduced lead times and greater coordination among suppliers, mitigating previous logistical constraints.
On the demand side, Potassium carbonate consumption was muted as downstream buyers were preoccupied with clearing inventories rather than initiating fresh procurement. Most of the fertiliser producers operated at sub-optimal levels, anticipating seasonal shifting from fall application to winter storage thereby decreasing procurement of raw materials like Potassium carbonate.
Export demand provided little support, with European restocking for winter while Southeast Asian markets remain quiet. Overall, the sentiment in the Potassium carbonate market was even, with neither supply tightness nor demand surges strong enough to influence prices, resulting in a month of stability.
India's potassium carbonate market followed China's equilibrium, with prices staying stable amidst balanced supply and cautious demand dynamics. Domestic production of Potassium carbonate remained steady, supported by stable feedstock Potassium chloride prices and uninterrupted import supplies from major Asian suppliers. A 4.8% decline in Drewry's Intra-Asia Container Index lowered freight rates—boosting landed economics and inducing stable inflows. Indian buyers rode out tropical storm disruptions at Southeast Asian ports using varied sourcing and buffer stock strategies.
On the demand front, the fertilizer segment witnessed healthy momentum in the kharif season on the strength of higher cultivation and favourable monsoons. Government reports reflected year-on-year growth in P&K fertilizer sales, with increased application of nutrients in key farm states resulting in increased procurement of Potassium carbonate by fertiliser producers. Anticipation of potential GST rate changes, though, led to defensive bulk purchases with buyers resorting to short-term acquisition plans. This defensive strategy kept active demand going for raw material like Potassium carbonate but prevented any radical upward revision of price, aiding overall market stability.
Looking ahead, Asian potassium carbonate prices are expected to remain firm till Q4's early stages, though regional forces will make subtle variations. In China, continuation of export uncertainty and winter storage switching might keep demand muted, but manufacturing prowess upholds supply continuity.
In India, kharif post-demand might slightly weaken, but rabi season preparation in advance and potential GST clarity might revive bulk purchase. Also, industrial applications and treatment of water may pick up again as monsoon-related disruptions ease off. With supply chains in operation and feedstock prices in control, the Potassium carbonate market is likely to operate within a slender range of prices, influenced by seasonal demand cycles and policy shifts.
