China’s iodine market recorded a slight recovery in May 2026 after experiencing a sharp decline in April. Iodine prices increased marginally by 0.15% month-on-month during May following a 3.33% drop in April, indicating continued cautious market sentiment. The April decline was mainly driven by reduced spot procurement after the post-Q1 restocking cycle, subdued demand from pharmaceutical and electronics sectors, and stable import arrivals from Chile and Japan, which maintained comfortable supply availability in the domestic market. During May, the iodine market showed signs of stabilization as downstream buyers, particularly from pharmaceutical and disinfectant sectors, resumed limited replenishment purchases. Stable export inquiries from regional markets also supported a slight increase in export prices and improved transactional activity compared to April. However, sufficient import availability and adequate domestic inventories continued to limit stronger price gains. Looking ahead, market participants expect the temporary rebound to weaken again in the coming months. Steady import flows, moderate downstream demand, and cautious procurement behavior across industrial sectors are anticipated to maintain pressure on the market, with China’s iodine prices likely to follow a gradual downward trend through the third quarter of 2026.
