China’s glutamic acid market softened in February as post-holiday destocking and inventory overhang after Lunar New Year kept sentiment negative. Early month saw producers clearing excess stocks while maintaining fermentation runs, limiting output flexibility as spot inquiries waned. Mid-month, softer overseas demand from key importers and coastal logistics friction amplified pressure on FOB quotations. By late February, buyers were cautious and activity subdued, obliging sellers to adjust bids to stimulate offtake amid high utilisation and steady production cycles. Demand across end markets underpinned the downturn: domestic MSG and seasoning producers trimmed processing schedules and curtailed spot enquiries, while feed additives and pharmaceuticals held regular contract volumes with no incremental appetite. Polyglutamic acid converters maintained steady buying but could not offset slack MSG activity. Exports remained subdued, with distributors reporting stocks and tenders falling modestly versus January. A rebound is expected in March with demand from pharmaceutical, food and feed sectors, though restocking could tighten near-term supply at Tianjin load points.
