For the Quarter Ending December 2025
North America
• In USA, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index fell by 5.01% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting surplus exports and stable freight.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2213.33/MT, based on CFR New York shipments.
• Potassium Sorbate Spot Price traded in narrow bands as import offers and freight stabilization limited distributor discounting.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast indicates modest upside from seasonal restocking, tempered by ample export availability and logistics normalization.
• Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend remained stable as feedstock and caustic potash quotations showed limited monthly variation.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook sustained steady food and pharmaceutical buying, supporting routine offtake without prompting speculative restocking.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Index movements reflected eased container rates, cautious importer restocking, and distributors managing year-end inventory cycles.
• Inventories remained adequate across distributors while major exporters maintained regular shipments, keeping short-term volatility subdued.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in December 2025 in North America?
• Eased container freight and reduced ocean surcharges lowered landed costs, offsetting deeper exporter discounts in early December.
• Stable feedstock and caustic potash prices limited producer margin pressure, preventing large price erosion during December.
• Importers managed inventories with cautious restocking while distributors maintained typical coverage, balancing supply and demand dynamics.
APAC
• In China, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index fell by 2.78% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting export weakness, destocking.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2096.67/MT, reflecting FOB Shanghai.
• Potassium Sorbate Spot Price stayed soft as coastal inventories grew and exporters discounted, sustaining share.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast anticipates modest upside from seasonal restocking and stable upstream cost dynamics.
• Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend rose slightly as caustic potash recovered, compressing producer margins modestly.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook is balanced; food and beverage consumption steady while export enquiries muted.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Index movements reflected Chinese plant operating rates, logistics, and intermittent weather-related interruptions.
• Export demand softness and higher warehouse stocks pressured offers while eastern-China producers kept output elevated.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in December 2025 in APAC?
• Caustic potash recovery increased feedstock costs, tightening margins and contributing modest upward price pressure slightly.
• Completed maintenance restored capacity and sustained supply, preventing significant December price escalation across export corridors.
• Routine export call-offs and comfortable coastal inventories encouraged seller discounts, dampening demand-driven price momentum further.
Europe
• In Germany, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index fell by 2.5% quarter-over-quarter, driven by logistics pressures.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2196.67/MT, per importer settlements.
• Potassium Sorbate Spot Price showed resilience as food-sector restocking and freight surcharges supported landed offers.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast indicates modest upside as disciplined buying offsets abundant import availability constraints.
• Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend remained steady, with flat caustic potash and controlled energy costs.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook stayed firm for food and pharmaceuticals, with cautious restocking limiting purchases.
• Inventory draws and steady export flows constrained rallies, keeping the Potassium Sorbate Price Index rangebound.
• Major importers maintained routine buying while Germany's small producer remained marginal, supporting balanced supply conditions.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in December 2025 in Europe?
• Euro strengthening and firmer dollar offers raised landed import costs, marginally boosting German CFR quotations.
• Balanced inventories with steady downstream demand limited upside, while cautious restocking sustained modest price firmness.
• Stable feedstock and freight costs eased producer margin pressure, removing incentives for significant price movements.
For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In the USA, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index rose by 0.72% quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, reflecting supply tightness.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2330/MT, reflecting modest import cost increases.
• Potassium Sorbate Spot Price strengthened on higher freight and port congestion, supporting incremental seller margin recovery.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast indicates modest gains as forward buying and holiday logistics elevate near-term import costs.
• Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend rose due to higher freight, energy, and raw material inflation across exporters.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook remains firm from food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors supporting sustained procurement across distributors.
• High inventory earlier moderated spot volatility, but port disruptions tightened short-term Potassium Sorbate Price Index.
• Exporters from China increased shipments to maintain market share, pressuring domestic margins despite logistical cost pass-throughs.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in September 2025 in North America?
• Elevated freight and port congestion increased landed import costs, transmitting upward pressure to CFR prices.
• Frontloaded buying ahead of tariff changes and seasonal demand created scarcity, tightening short-term availability, pricing.
• High inventories restrained buying, but renewed downstream restocking led to marginal price increases in September.
APAC
• In China, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index fell by 1.67% quarter-over-quarter, due to weak exports.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2156.67/MT, FOB Shanghai basis.
• Elevated inventories and aggressive discounting pressured Potassium Sorbate Spot Price, prompting buyers to defer purchasing.
• Logistics issues and port congestion tightened supply, influencing a short-term Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast recovery.
• Reduced raw material, energy expenses shifted Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend down, aiding export competitiveness.
• Muted international procurement and cautious domestic buying softened Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook during the quarter.
• Regional competition from India and Southeast Asia pressured exporters, affecting the Potassium Sorbate Price Index.
• Scheduled maintenance and seasonal weather disruptions reduced output, tightening supply, supporting Potassium Sorbate Spot Price.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in September 2025 in APAC?
• Supply overhang from elevated Chinese inventories pressured export pricing, forcing discounts to restore shipment turnover.
• Softening feedstock and energy costs reduced production expenses, enabling manufacturers to lower FOB export quotes.
• Port congestion and logistical delays increased demurrage risk, encouraging rapid inventory clearance via aggressive discounts.
Europe
• In Germany, the Potassium Sorbate Price Index fell by 0.81% quarter-over-quarter, owing to persistent oversupply.
• The average Potassium Sorbate price for the quarter was approximately USD 2255.00/MT amid subdued imports.
• Potassium Sorbate Spot Price remained subdued as distributors liquidated stocks amid elevated inventories and delays.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Forecast indicates modest rebound driven by seasonal food restocking and constrained exports.
• Potassium Sorbate Production Cost Trend eased as lower energy, raw material prices reduced production pressures.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand Outlook remains subdued with buyers prioritizing inventory drawdown over fresh purchases ahead.
• Potassium Sorbate Price Index rose amid Hamburg congestion, low Rhine levels and inland transport delays.
• Export demand weakness and abundant imports pressured sellers, prompting discounting and slower prompt buying nationally.
Why did the price of Potassium Sorbate change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Persistently high inventories and subdued downstream demand limited procurement, maintaining downward pressure on import prices.
• Hamburg Bremerhaven congestion, low Rhine levels increased logistics costs and delivery delays, tightening supply flows.
• Lower energy and feedstock costs reduced production expenses, partially offsetting import-driven softness in domestic pricing.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America:
• April began with genuine Potassium Sorbate pricing weakness, primarily brought on by a US domestic market that was overstocked. Suppliers had previously accumulated stock in anticipation of a holiday-driven demand recovery, which was not realized, and aggressively cold-stored it throughout the month.
• End-user Potassium Sorbate demand remained sluggish in both pharmaceutical and food processing markets. Purchasers were cautious with macroeconomic uncertainty the rule and already high inventory positions on hand, resulting in subdued spot market activity and less contract renewals.
• Cross-border commerce headwinds in the form of continuing tariffs and supply disruptions choked new entrants and added to truncated transaction volumes. Imports were done primarily on an as-we-go basis, which kept momentum under wraps during Apri.
• Weaker energy and logistics costs—a result of declining fuel prices and easing U.S. inflation (at 2.3%)—helped reduce landed costs. However, this also gave exporters room to cut prices without sacrificing margins, pushing prices lower further.
• May marked a strong price rebound, led by a sharp pickup in demand from food and beverage processors, pharmaceuticals, and personal care manufacturers. These sectors actively restocked amid seasonal production ramps and concern over supply chain volatility.
• Shipping inefficiencies and tariff shifts disrupted supply chains, especially following temporary tariff suspensions in early May. This led to a 300% surge in Chinese export bookings, prompting carriers to implement Peak Season Surcharges and increase freight rates.
• The weakening U.S. dollar against the yuan, along with renewed freight surcharges, elevated landed costs despite relatively stable FOB export prices, reinforcing upward pricing pressure for U.S. importers.
• Port congestion across the U.S. and China, along with container equipment shortages and backlogs at major entry points (e.g., Los Angeles and New York), created logistical challenges that further inflated import prices.
• June saw prices stabilize at a higher level, supported by solid Potassium Sorbate demand and continuing freight pressures. Seasonal consumption and forward buying ahead of expected Q3 volatility kept the market well-supported, despite soft offers from Asian exporters with price settling at USD 2310/MT CFR NewYork.
• Q3 Outlook for Potassium Sorbate in the U.S. remains moderately bullish, contingent on sustained demand from the food and pharma sectors and continued logistical disruptions. Unless freight rates ease or inventory pressure rises again, a significant price correction appears unlikely.
Asia Pacific:
• April 2025 saw a sharp decline in Potassium Sorbate export prices from China, following a robust March. Weak international demand, particularly from Europe and Southeast Asia, coincided with high inventory levels in key markets, limiting overseas procurement activities and dragging prices down despite temporary port disruptions and stricter customs inspections.
• Chinese Potassium Sorbate exporters struggled with oversupply amid reduced overseas orders and increasing competition from substitute preservatives. These factors forced them to adopt aggressive FOB pricing strategies, further reinforcing the downtrend. Contract renewals remained limited, particularly as food and beverage production outside China cooled post-Q1.
• Potassium Sorbate Manufacturing operations remained steady in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces, with no raw material supply disruptions. Stable feedstock costs and efficient inland logistics allowed factories to operate at high output, contributing to rapid inventory build-up and weakening market pricing power in April.
• Potassium Sorbate Demand outlook remained bleak throughout April, as global buyers maintained cautious procurement due to macroeconomic pressures, rising inflation, and stricter regulatory scrutiny in core markets. Slower production cycles in food and beverage industries added to the downturn in export interest.
• A significant recovery emerged in May 2025 as global restocking resumed, driven by fear of looming tariffs. The U.S.-China 90-day tariff suspension mid-May encouraged bulk buying from North America and Europe. Buyers rushed to secure shipments, leading to an export surge and firmer FOB prices.
• Exporters capitalized on competitive pricing and expanded outreach to alternative markets like ASEAN, Latin America, and the Middle East. Shipping activity intensified, but rising freight rates, especially on Transpacific and Asia-Europe routes, added cost pressures, leading to an increase in landed prices abroad.
• Chinese production in May remained uninterrupted and robust, supported by stable sorbic acid inputs. However, as international demand spiked, domestic availability tightened, giving suppliers enhanced pricing leverage and priority over export-oriented contracts.
• June marked a reversal again, as order volumes dropped from key regions, leading to renewed FOB price weakness. Falling raw material and energy costs reduced production expenses, allowing Chinese exporters to cut prices while maintaining margins. As a result, with quarter ending in june, the prices were settled at USD 2190/MT FOB Shanghai.
• Inventory glut from overproduction earlier in Q2 persisted in June. Port congestion in Shanghai and Ningbo further complicated outbound logistics, prompting sellers to offload stocks at discounted rates to reduce holding costs and avoid demurrage penalties.
• Chinese exporters faced rising competition from India and Southeast Asia, as global buyers diversified sourcing. Demand stagnation from processed food and pharmaceutical sectors, influenced by inflation and cautious spending, contributed to June’s market weakness. However, anticipation of Q3 seasonal Potassium Sorbate demand and tariff-related shifts may drive a moderate uptrend moving forward.
Europe:
• April 2025 saw a notable surge in Potassium Sorbate prices in Germany, primarily fueled by constrained citrus peel availability—due to crop diseases and adverse weather in key growing regions—and rising production costs stemming from increased energy, labor, and compliance burdens on domestic manufacturers.
• Strong Potassium Sorbate demand from the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries, especially clean-label and plant-based segments, underpinned firm offtake during April. Buyers showed urgency in procurement and front-loading purchases to hedge against future delays and cost surges.
• Furthermore, german suppliers faced logistics bottlenecks driven by Easter-related slowdowns, port congestion at Hamburg and Antwerp, Rhine River water shortages, and inland freight limitations. These compounded challenges extended delivery timelines and raised handling expenses, reinforcing the price uptrend.
• In May, export market dynamics reflected persistent tightness as German manufacturers prioritized long-term clients amidst lower output allocations caused by plant maintenance and adherence to stricter environmental regulations, lifting FOB prices notably.
• Global freight pressures—such as Red Sea rerouting, higher ocean container rates, and currency fluctuations—added further cost layers. Exporters responded by tightening offer validity and raising minimum order volumes, limiting flexibility for non-contract buyers and intensifying import competition in Europe and Southeast Asia.
• Despite elevated prices, global demand remained robust, led by food processors and beverage manufacturers favoring natural gelling agents. Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical players maintained steady offtake, though some smaller formulators tightened inventory strategies due to budget pressures.
• By June, rising input costs (citric acid, butanediol) and tight logistics networks pushed German export prices higher. Inland transport was severely disrupted due to Rhine-level constraints, rail congestion, and road freight saturation, while port labor shortages and container scarcities drove up handling charges. Ovetall the prices were settled at USD 12950/MT CFR Hamburg.
• Downstream demand further accelerated in June, particularly from global food and pharma sectors aiming to stockpile ahead of Q3 uncertainties. Strong international restocking, especially from the Middle East and Asia, sustained bullish sentiment and enabled German exporters to maintain higher pricing levels.
• While Q2 ended on a firm note for German Potassium Sorbate prices, early indications suggest a potential softening in Q3 as international buyers digest current inventory levels, and logistics conditions show early signs of stabilization, though downside will depend on energy and freight cost relief.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
In Q1 2025, Potassium Sorbate prices in the U.S. exhibited a consistent downward trend, primarily driven by weak demand from the pharmaceutical and food sectors. Despite rising feedstock Sorbic Acid costs, market sentiment remained bearish due to high inventory levels and excess global supply. In January, logistical disruptions at major U.S. ports added uncertainty, limiting new orders. Additionally, buyers showed little urgency in procurement, adopting a cautious approach amid prolonged weak consumption and elevated stock availability.
In February, the decline in Potassium Sorbate prices intensified due to a surge in Chinese shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year, contributing to oversupply. Reduced freight rates from Asia and stable production costs further enhanced the competitiveness of imports, compelling domestic producers to lower prices. Downstream buyers continued to delay purchases amid economic uncertainty and trade policy concerns, particularly surrounding potential tariffs. As a result, procurement activity slowed, reinforcing the bearish price trajectory across the U.S. market.
March likely followed the same trend, as key drivers—subdued demand, high inventories, and import pressure—remained unchanged. Despite an improvement in U.S. manufacturing activity, downstream sectors maintained a defensive buying strategy. Overall, Q1 2025 closed with soft market conditions and no clear signals of imminent price recovery.
Asia Pacific
In Q1 2025, the Chinese Potassium Sorbate market experienced notable volatility, starting with a bearish trend in January. Weak downstream demand, high inventory levels, and seasonal disruptions from the Lunar New Year led to downward price pressure. This was compounded by a broader deflationary environment, with China's producer prices declining by 2.3% year-over-year. International buyers took a cautious approach, waiting for more favorable pricing conditions, keeping market activity subdued.
However, February saw a sharp recovery as the supply-demand gap, leaner inventories, and rising global demand drove prices upward. The post-holiday return to industrial activity in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors boosted demand, while increasing production costs, including higher energy prices, added further pressure on prices. Additionally, a rebound in China’s manufacturing PMI indicated improving economic conditions, supporting the upward price trajectory.
Looking ahead to March, the market showed signs of stability, with prices expected to remain elevated due to sustained demand from key sectors. The overall trend for Q1 2025 reflects a shift from a weak start to a strong recovery in February, with a stable outlook heading into the final month of the quarter.
Europe
The Potassium Sorbate market in Germany exhibited a mixed price trend in Q1 2025, marked by an initial decline followed by a sharp price rebound in February. In January, prices fell due to weak demand from the food and pharmaceutical sectors, coupled with excess supply from China as exporters diverted shipments away from the U.S. market amid impending tariff hikes. Additionally, economic uncertainty surrounding Germany’s upcoming elections and sluggish recovery in the Eurozone’s consumer sectors led buyers to adopt conservative procurement strategies, reinforcing the bearish momentum.
In February, prices surged significantly as the market shifted into a supply-deficient phase. The Lunar New Year holiday in China restricted exports, while regional demand remained strong. This imbalance, along with severe logistical disruptions at the Port of Hamburg—including berthing delays, labor shortages, and infrastructure issues—contributed to tight supply and rising operational costs. The situation was further intensified by precautionary stockpiling and improved consumer sentiment, supported by easing inflation in the Eurozone.
Toward the end of March, early signs of stabilization began to emerge, though uncertainty lingered. While February’s rebound provided temporary support to the market, the underlying demand weakness and ongoing logistical challenges suggest that prices may remain volatile in the near term unless structural improvements occur.
