For the Quarter Ending June 2023
North America
In North America, the domestic Vitamin B5 (D- Calpan) market witnessed a stagnancy in its price chart during the second quarter of 2023. The CFR New York price negotiations fell by a margin from $19500 per tonne to $18600 per tonne between April and June 2023, representing a decline of -4.6% over the quarter. In the second half of quarter 2, demand from end-user pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries for Vitamin B5 (D-Calpan) in the United States weakened somewhat. Another factor supporting price reductions in the country was the abundant supply of vitamin B5 (D-Calpan) from domestic suppliers, which led them to lower their price offers. Inflation in the country has fallen in line with energy prices. However, analysts believe that the fall in inflation is temporary due to the easing of supply chain pressures and have described it as a glitch. Despite mixed sentiment on the price of vitamins and other dietary supplements, the country's nutraceuticals market has also shown a mixed pattern of market activity.
Asia Pacific
The Asia-Pacific Vitamin B5 (D- Calpan) market showed a mixed pattern of price movements in Q2 2023. Prices initially rose from $17500/t in April to $18000/t in May, before falling back to $17400/t in June'23. This price decline became quite sustained from the beginning of June due to the fall in demand from the downstream pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors declined both domestically and internationally. Chinese producers of Vitamin B5 (D- Calpan) were forced to sell the product at reduced margins due to lower consumer enquiries. China's manufacturing activity contracted for the third consecutive month in June, although at a slower pace, as per the stats. However, domestic producers were still generating stock on the basis of demand. The figures came as pressure mounted on the authorities to reveal better measures to support an economy that has flattened out after a strong first-quarter rebound. June's PMI also revealed a number of imbalances including continued declines in regional & foreign demand, an accelerated decline in small business activity and increasing pressure on the pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements sector.
Europe
In Germany, the domestic Vitamin B5 (D- Calpan) market displayed bullish sentiments in the second quarter of 2023, with price talks at CFR Hamburg escalating from $18000/t to $18300/t from April to June 2023. This demonstrated an incline of 1.7% over the quarter, which was mainly due to sustained demand from the nutra and pharma industries in the face of moderate stocks held by suppliers. In April, the price of energy and natural gas fell in Europe to its lowest level since the beginning of the crisis. This undoubtedly helped commerce from Asia, especially China, as optimism for a stronger economic recovery increased. However, the German unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in June, negatively impacting the market scenario, and inflation rose again in June to over 6% in Germany. The impact on the B5 (D-Calpan) industry remains unclear. Market participants still have doubts about the economic situation in the country, as in the rest of the world, and are adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
