For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
• In USA, the Tartaric Acid Price Index fell by 13.9% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weaker buying activity.
• The average Tartaric Acid price for the quarter was approximately USD 1822.33/MT, reflecting settlement levels.
• Tartaric Acid Spot Price weakened as distributors offered discounts amid comfortable stocks, muted buying demand.
• Tartaric Acid Price Forecast indicates modest near-term gains driven by seasonal procurement and shipping disruptions.
• Tartaric Acid Production Cost Trend remained stable with steady feedstock and energy costs preserving margins.
• Tartaric Acid Demand Outlook remains steady for food applications, though citric acid substitution pressure continues.
• Tartaric Acid Price Index volatility reflected port congestion and frontloaded July imports, tightening supply chains.
• Tartaric Acid Spot Price dynamics remain sensitive to distributor inventories, import schedules, and contract negotiations.
Why did the price of Tartaric Acid change in September 2025 in North America?
• Port congestion and Golden Week precautionary buying tightened import arrivals, temporarily reducing available spot supply.
• Ample distributor inventories and substitution from citric acid curtailed aggressive procurement and pressured spot prices.
• Stable input costs but cautious downstream purchasing and logistics uncertainties further moderated immediate price recovery.
APAC
• In China, the Tartaric Acid Price Index fell by 12.37% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting weak export demand.
• The average Tartaric Acid price for the quarter was approximately USD 1680.67/MT FOB Shanghai settlement.
• Tartaric Acid Spot Price stabilized mid-September, driven by selective restocking and modest pharmaceutical sector purchases.
• Tartaric Acid Price Forecast shows limited upside as inventory overhang competes with seasonal export buying.
• Tartaric Acid Production Cost Trend remained subdued owing to stable energy and ample feedstock availability.
• Tartaric Acid Demand Outlook is muted domestically while export inquiries intermittently support the Price Index.
• Inventory buildup pressured the Tartaric Acid Price Index despite continuing restocking activity from Western buyers.
• Chinese producers ran measured capacities, preserving supply balance and keeping Tartaric Acid Spot Price competitive.
Why did the price of Tartaric Acid change in September 2025 in APAC?
• High domestic output and steady feedstock supplies increased inventories, reducing urgency and weighing on prices.
• Advance export buying earlier subsided, leaving buyers drawing inventories and lowering immediate Tartaric Acid demand.
• Stable energy and input costs limited production cost support while shipping constraints affected export flows.
Europe
• In Germany, the Tartaric Acid Price Index fell by 11.4% quarter-over-quarter, driven by improved availability.
• The average Tartaric Acid price for the quarter was approximately USD 1785.67/MT, per CFR Hamburg.
• Tartaric Acid Spot Price volatility eased as import offers stabilized, supporting strengthening in Price Index.
• Tartaric Acid Demand Outlook remains cautious with downstream buyers maintaining conservative purchasing amid ample inventories.
• Tartaric Acid Production Cost Trend remained benign as feedstock and utility costs exhibited upward pressure.
• Tartaric Acid Price Forecast suggests range-bound trading near current levels absent significant supply disruptions materially.
• Sustained import inflows and distributor stocks pressured the Price Index, reducing spot liquidity, limiting exports.
• Periodic Chinese maintenance and selective supplier allocation intermittently tightened spot supply, prompting transient upward movements.
Why did the price of Tartaric Acid change in September 2025 in Europe?
• Improved import availability and competitive export offers increased supply, driving down Tartaric Acid Price Index.
• Muted seasonal demand and cautious downstream procurement reduced spot uptake, limiting momentum in Price Index.
• Logistics normalization and occasional port congestion alternately eased or tightened availability, producing intermittent price adjustments.
For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• In April 2025, the Price Index of Tartaric Acid (CFR New York) rose to USD 2185/MT, driven by strong procurement ahead of anticipated U.S. tariff actions targeting Chinese goods.
• The Tartaric Acid spot price increase in April reflected accelerated buying across food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors, with downstream players building inventory to hedge against expected trade disruptions.
• Domestic producers maintained stable output, but frontloading activity caused temporary supply tightness, supporting a firm price index level throughout April.
• In May 2025, the Tartaric Acid Price Index inched up to USD 2195/MT, as the implementation of a 145% tariff on Chinese products on April 9 reshaped sourcing strategies and increased landed costs.
• The Tartaric Acid demand outlook remained strong in May, bolstered by steady inflation and optimistic consumer sentiment, prompting continued purchasing despite logistics congestion and longer lead times.
• By June 2025, the Tartaric Acid Price Index declined significantly to USD 1970/MT, as most buyers had already covered their near-term needs and demand momentum slowed sharply.
• Weak transactional activity and sufficient stock levels at the distributor level in June weighed down the product spot price, resulting in a softening market trend.
• Despite the drop in June, no major supply-side disruptions were reported, and tartaric acid production cost trends remained largely unchanged due to stable domestic operations.
• In early July 2025, tartaric acid prices were observed to be declining further, but this is expected to reverse as manufacturers begin securing volumes for Q3.
• The tartaric acid price forecast for July suggests a possible mild recovery, supported by steady to strong demand from core end-use sectors and stable inflation, though cautious spending may limit the extent of gains.
APAC
• The Price Index for Tartaric Acid (FOB Shanghai) rose from USD 2000/MT in April to USD 2038/MT in May due to a tight supply chain and robust product demand outlook across food, pharma, and wine sectors.
• April’s price surge of 6.95% was driven by constrained production, aggressive domestic restocking ahead of maintenance, and export acceleration amid policy uncertainty.
• The tartaric acid spot price faced downward pressure in June, declining sharply to USD 1716/MT, marking a 15.8% drop amid fading international demand and weaker procurement sentiment.
• A stable Tartaric Acid production cost trend in May helped maintain price equilibrium despite subdued export volumes and selective contract fulfillment by producers.
• Weak demand from North America contrasted with steady interest from other global markets, balancing China’s export portfolio and sustaining moderate upward pressure through May.
• In June, falling maleic anhydride prices lowered input costs, encouraging suppliers to cut offers amid growing inventory levels and bearish buyer sentiment.
• Traders adopted a cautious approach in May, avoiding overstocking due to global trade uncertainties and selective purchasing behavior.
• The product demand outlook weakened in June as downstream consumption slowed in food, beverage, and industrial sectors.
• July 2025 prices are likely to increase, driven by renewed overseas buying and anticipated logistical constraints affecting global supply.
• Traders and exporters are expected to hold higher offer levels in July, capitalizing on continued Western demand and favorable margins.
Europe
• In April 2025, the Price Index of tartaric acid rose to USD 2096/MT, driven by tight supply, redirected Chinese shipments due to U.S. tariffs, and increased restocking ahead of summer demand from food and pharma sectors.
• Strengthened purchasing confidence from a dip in Eurozone inflation supported a firmer product demand outlook, with suppliers leveraging momentum to lift product spot prices.
• Buyers anticipated limited Q3 availability and placed forward orders, contributing to a competitive procurement environment and firmer product price forecast.
• In May 2025, the Tartaric Acid Price Index edged up slightly to USD 2125/MT, bolstered by stable demand and cautious inventory replenishment, especially from food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Despite the rise, market sentiment was conservative; buyers closely tracked consumption patterns before making large-volume deals.
• A sharp Price Index drop to USD 1825/MT in June 2025 (down -14.12%) stemmed from improved availability and sellers lowering product spot prices to offload excess stock.
• Buyers delayed fresh purchases in June, expecting further declines amid growing competition and corrections in product production cost trend.
• Tartaric Acid demand remained steady, but oversupply and market fatigue caused significant price corrections, reversing prior Q2 gains.
• For July 2025, the price is likely to increase modestly due to peak-season food and beverage consumption and sustained high landed costs from the ongoing shipping peak.
• Short-term improvements in seasonal demand and continued inventory drawdowns are expected to revive the product demand outlook in early Q3.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
Prices for Tartaric Acid in the U.S. experienced a consistent decline throughout Q1 2025, impacted by a combination of economic challenges, seasonal disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties. In January, weaker consumer confidence, compounded by severe winter storms, slowed downstream demand in the food and beverage sectors, while also disrupting logistics. Meanwhile, pre-emptive stockpiling—driven by tariff concerns and seasonal purchasing cycles—contributed to an oversupply in the market.
As the quarter progressed, February saw further price erosion, largely due to increased export availability from China, spurred by post-holiday production recovery. Additionally, lower transpacific freight rates helped sustain inbound supply. However, despite these logistical improvements, soft demand persisted, driven by economic caution, inflationary pressures, and hesitancy in ordering due to ongoing tariff uncertainties.
By March, the market conditions worsened further as elevated inventories, limited purchasing activity, and the impact of President Trump's tariff hike on Chinese imports added to the growing market uncertainty. The weakened U.S. dollar also increased the cost pressure on imports, discouraging restocking efforts among buyers. As a result, sellers had to resort to aggressive price reductions in order to offload surplus stock, exacerbating the downward price trend.
Throughout the quarter, market sentiment remained subdued, with no strong recovery in demand, leading to a continued downward pricing momentum for Tartaric Acid.
Asia Pacific
In Q1 2025, the Tartaric Acid market in China experienced notable price movements, influenced by supply and demand shifts. In January, prices surged due to strong demand from the food and beverage industry, especially for wine production during the New Year season. Simultaneously, production was hindered by the Lunar New Year holiday, which led to supply tightness. Exporters also ramped up shipments in anticipation of potential tariff changes, further tightening the supply and driving prices upward. By February, prices began to stabilize as supply chains recovered post-holiday, and manufacturing resumed at full capacity. However, demand softened slightly due to seasonal declines in wine production and slower growth in other downstream sectors. Despite this, the market saw slight upward pressure as exporters turned more toward local markets, driven by favorable domestic consumption trends. By March, prices picked up again due to continued demand from both local manufacturers and international buyers, especially in anticipation of higher consumption in the months ahead. Overall, Q1 2025 saw moderate price increases in the Tartaric Acid market, driven by fluctuating demand and supply constraints.
Europe
In Q1 2025, the German tartaric acid market faced a consistent decline, influenced by weakened demand and broader economic pressures. The downward trend began in January, fueled by inflation, political uncertainty ahead of national elections, and reduced consumer spending. These factors affected key sectors like food and beverage and wine production, key drivers of tartaric acid consumption. The anticipation of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods further led to increased competition, as Chinese suppliers targeted Europe, driving prices lower. By February, the market became oversupplied due to inventory buildup, aided by a strong Euro and falling freight rates on Asia-Europe routes, which made imports more cost-effective. The Lunar New Year stockpiling exacerbated this glut, while demand remained subdued. In March, favorable import conditions and healthy shipping capacity kept the market oversupplied, with demand still low as buyers focused on clearing excess inventory. Despite some port congestion, the low landed costs supported the soft pricing environment. Throughout Q1, cautious procurement strategies and weak sentiment continued to pressure tartaric acid prices in Germany.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In Q4 2024, the U.S. Tartaric acid market experienced notable fluctuations, influenced by a blend of economic factors and shifting market dynamics. In October, prices declined due to ongoing economic uncertainty, inflation concerns, and a dip in consumer demand. Business and consumer hesitation, coupled with external disruptions like hurricanes and labor strikes, pressured prices downward as companies sought to stimulate sales.
November continued the downward trend, with demand weakening further. The easing of inflationary pressures, along with the appreciation of the U.S. dollar, made imports more affordable, contributing to a decrease in prices. Additionally, the resolution of supply chain disruptions, combined with healthy inventories, helped stabilize prices despite the demand slowdown. In December, however, the market saw a rebound in Tartaric acid prices. This uptick was driven by robust demand, proactive purchasing, and the easing of interest rates, which bolstered consumer confidence. Concerns over potential supply disruptions, including strikes and tariff increases on Chinese imports, led to increased stockpiling as businesses braced for higher future costs, further pushing prices upward.
Overall, Q4 2024 saw a fluctuating market for Tartaric acid, with declining prices early in the quarter followed by a rebound in December, spurred by a combination of demand, strategic purchasing, and supply chain concerns.
Asia Pacific
In Q4 2024, Tartaric acid prices in China experienced notable volatility, influenced by a range of market factors. October saw a significant decline in prices, driven by weak domestic demand, an oversupply of stock, and fierce competition among suppliers. External geopolitical uncertainties, particularly surrounding the U.S. elections and growing protectionist policies, further dampened international demand, adding downward pressure to the market. The trend continued in November, with sluggish domestic demand, high distributor inventories, and weak global sales further exacerbating price declines. Tariff concerns also contributed to the market's challenges. The fall in raw material and crude oil prices led to reduced production costs, enabling suppliers to lower prices to maintain competitiveness. However, December marked a shift in the market dynamics, as prices rebounded sharply. This was driven by strong demand from the food, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Proactive stockpiling ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, along with a weaker yuan that made exports more affordable, further stimulated market activity and pushed prices higher. Overall, the Q4 market for Tartaric acid in China saw a sharp drop in prices followed by a recovery, shaped by fluctuating domestic demand, export activity, and adjustments in production costs.
Europe
In Q4 2024, the Tartaric acid market in Germany experienced fluctuating price trends, influenced by a blend of economic pressures and logistical factors. October saw a decline in prices, driven by weaker consumer demand, exacerbated by inflation concerns. A sharp 60% drop in container shipping costs on Asia-Europe routes helped ease logistics challenges, allowing businesses to adjust their strategies and maintain steady supply levels, which contributed to stabilizing prices. In November, the downward trend continued as demand remained sluggish and inflationary pressures eased. Germany's economic slowdown, coupled with a 1.9% drop in energy prices, added to the subdued market conditions. With inventories well-stocked, suppliers were able to offer more competitive pricing, reinforcing the price decline. By December, however, the market saw a reversal, with prices rising due to increased demand from key sectors and logistical challenges ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The weakening Euro, combined with congestion at European ports, added cost pressures, pushing Tartaric acid prices higher. Overall, Q4 2024 was characterized by a blend of price reductions early in the quarter, followed by a rise in December driven by demand recovery and supply chain constraints.
