For the Quarter Ending September 2025
North America
鈥� In United States, the Valine Price Index rose quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, driven by robust consumer spending.
鈥� Valine production costs faced upward pressure from 3.0% CPI in September 2025 and 2.6% PPI in August 2025.
鈥� Strong pharmaceutical demand and expanding dietary supplements boosted Valine demand outlook in Q3 2025.
鈥� Corn feedstock costs softened in Q3 2025 due to record crop forecasts, easing Valine production expenses.
鈥� Ammonia feedstock costs fluctuated in Q3 2025, initially rising then easing in September.
鈥� The 4.3% unemployment rate in September 2025 supported consumer income, bolstering Valine demand.
鈥� Weakening consumer confidence to 94.2 in September 2025 indicated potential softening for Valine demand.
鈥� An improved supply-demand balance for industry amino acid inventories in Q3 2025 contributed to market stability.
Why did the price of Valine change in September 2025 in North America?
鈥� Robust consumer spending, evidenced by 5.42% retail sales growth in September 2025, boosted Valine demand.
鈥� Rising operational costs, indicated by 3.0% CPI in September 2025, pressured Valine production expenses.
鈥� Softening corn feedstock costs in Q3 2025 partially offset other rising input costs for Valine.
APAC
鈥� In China, the Valine Price Index fell quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, influenced by contracting manufacturing activity in September 2025.
鈥� Valine production costs decreased as Isobutyraldehyde feedstock costs plummeted to a three-year low in September 2025.
鈥� Despite a 6.5% rise in industrial production year-over-year in September 2025, consumer confidence remained pessimistic.
鈥� Valine demand outlook was mixed; animal feed and pharmaceutical sectors showed growth in Q3 2025.
鈥� Retail sales increased by 3.0% year-over-year in September 2025, supporting some downstream Valine applications.
鈥� Ammonia inventories were ample in Northeast Asia during Q3 2025, easing Valine production cost pressures.
鈥� Environmental regulations in Q3 2025 affected amino acid production rates, tightening regional Valine supply control.
鈥� The Valine Price Index faced downward pressure from a -2.3% year-over-year decline in producer prices in September 2025.
鈥� Persistent deflationary pressures, with CPI at -0.3% in September 2025, indicate a stable to slightly declining Valine price forecast.
Why did the price of Valine change in September 2025 in APAC?
鈥� Producer prices declined by 2.3% year-over-year in September 2025, reducing Valine production costs.
鈥� Isobutyraldehyde feedstock costs plummeted, lowering Valine manufacturing expenses in September 2025.
鈥� Contracting manufacturing activity in September 2025, despite rising retail sales, dampened overall Valine demand.
Europe
鈥� In Germany, the Valine Price Index experienced a slight decline quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2025, influenced by lower producer prices.
鈥� Valine production costs decreased in September 2025 as producer prices of industrial products fell by 1.7% year-over-year.
鈥� Operational expenses for Valine producers rose due to a 2.4% year-over-year CPI increase in September 2025.
鈥� Valine demand outlook remained constrained as the Manufacturing Index showed a contracting trend throughout Q3 2025.
鈥� Industrial production in Germany declined by 1.0% year-over-year in September 2025, signaling weaker economic activity.
鈥� Retail sales in Germany increased by 0.2% year-over-year in September 2025, offering minor support to end-use demand.
鈥� Tight natural gas supply fundamentals across Q1-Q3 2025 impacted energy costs for Valine fermentation processes.
鈥� Valine price forecast indicates continued pressure from weak industrial demand, partially offset by lower energy costs.
Why did the price of Valine change in September 2025 in Europe?
鈥� Producer prices fell 1.7% year-over-year in September 2025, reducing Valine production costs.
鈥� Industrial production declined 1.0% year-over-year in September 2025, weakening Valine demand.
鈥� Tight natural gas supply in Q1-Q3 2025 pressured energy-intensive Valine production expenses.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
The North American Valine market in Q1 2025 is characterized by a supply-demand imbalance, with demand notably exceeding supply for feed grade variants, while food grade demand shows a modest upward trajectory.聽
Limited production capacity and weakened inventories, compounded by rising freight costs and currency fluctuations, have constrained trade flows, particularly between Asia and the region. Despite these pressures, increased imports have bolstered supply, leading to a generally balanced market with stable demand patterns and cautious inventory management as the quarter progresses.
In the USA, Valine prices declined by 1.41% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging $2,123/MT during the current quarter with a relatively flat intra-quarter trend. This stability reflects a balance between strong feed grade demand surpassing supply and increased imports enhancing availability. Freight cost fluctuations and currency volatility continue to influence import prices, while subdued end-user inquiries suggest a cautious near-term outlook with prices expected to remain steady yet slightly pressured.
Asia Pacific
The APAC Valine market in Q1 2025 is characterized by a complex interplay of supply and demand factors. While increasing global meat production supports higher feed-grade L-Valine consumption, supply constraints from raw material shortages and production bottlenecks exert upward pressure on prices. However, abundant inventories and subdued regional inquiries have created a loose supply-demand balance, prompting traders to focus on inventory clearance at discounted rates. The market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic but tempered by transitional trading hurdles and logistical challenges, leading to a generally muted trading environment as the quarter progresses.
In China, L-Valine feed grade prices declined by 4.81% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging 1881 USD/MT during the quarter. Monthly prices exhibited a relatively flat trend, reflecting stable production amid consistent demand. Price movements were influenced by limited raw material availability, elevated manufacturing costs, and cautious buyer behavior amid sufficient merchant inventories. The overall market trend in China is mildly bearish, with expectations of continued inventory-driven price corrections in the near term.
Europe
The European Valine market in Q1 2025 is characterized by sustained elevated prices driven by persistent demand from key end-user sectors such as livestock and poultry feed. Supply constraints, exacerbated by higher feed corn costs and logistical challenges, have tightened availability, prompting importers to build excess inventories. While freight conditions have stabilized, ongoing global shipping cost pressures and regulatory disruptions continue to influence trade dynamics. Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with expectations of a gradual price correction as inventory levels normalize toward mid-year.
In Germany, Valine prices declined by 2.36% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, averaging USD 2,068 per metric ton. Monthly prices exhibited a relatively flat trend throughout the quarter, reflecting a balance between sustained demand and supply-side pressures. Elevated feed corn costs and limited domestic production underpin price volatility, while importers' inventory accumulation has driven short-term price surges. The overall market outlook is stable to mildly bearish, with anticipated downward pressure entering Q3 as stocked inventories are cleared.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
In Q4 2024, the North American Valine market, particularly in the U.S., experienced a mixed trajectory influenced by supply-demand imbalances and global market dynamics. Feed-grade Valine saw consistent price declines throughout the quarter due to oversupply and reduced procurement activity, as key buyers leveraged existing inventories.聽
Food-grade Valine initially faced downward pressure, with major end-users delaying purchases. However, November brought an upward price trend for food-grade Valine, driven by strong demand from the health supplement and fortified product sectors, alongside rising production costs linked to higher corn prices and supply limitations from exporting regions.
By December, food-grade Valine prices fell sharply as stable quotes from Chinese suppliers, coupled with efforts to clear inventories, reduced urgency among U.S. buyers. Softer feedstock prices and muted domestic consumption further reinforced the price decline across both Valine grades, exacerbated by limited spot buying and weaker international demand. Additionally, hesitancy from domestic clients to commit to new projects amid anticipated policy changes under the Trump administration contributed to a pessimistic outlook. Despite these challenges, manufacturers increased employment, though reduced capacity utilization and cautious purchasing signaled ongoing market headwinds. Overall, Q4 2024 marked a challenging period for the U.S. Valine market with minimal signs of recovery.
APAC
In Q4 2024, China's L-Valine market experienced a mixed trajectory, with feed-grade Valine continuing its downward trend, while food-grade Valine saw significant fluctuations. October witnessed a sharp decline in both feed and food -grade Valine prices, driven by lower feed ingredient prices (corn and soybean meal) and weak overseas quotations. This resulted in elevated inventories and subdued market activity, with suppliers adjusting prices to move stock, benefiting end-users with more affordable food. However, the decline in feed-grade Valine was offset by robust demand for food-grade Valine, which witnessed a significant upward price trajectory due to strong rebound from the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors in November 2024. While at the same time, the Market conditions were further impacted by geopolitical factors, including potential U.S. tariff changes and China鈥檚 currency adjustments, which led to aggressive destocking and discounted pricing concerning the feed grade. Moreover, with a significant rise in downstream consumption both from the regional and overseas market, traders focused on clearing their inventories at a higher price thereby benefiting them in terms of sales and heightening profit margins.聽 However, as Q4 concludes, the prices dropped considerably for food grade and buyers remain cautious, limiting purchases to immediate needs, which has intensified price competition among suppliers for the entire month, resulting in a significant price drop. While that of feed grade, the market continued to remain weak with traders mainly engaged in destocking practices. Overall, the market remained on the southerly side for feed grade while demonstrated a positive trajectory for food grade with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024.聽
Europe
In Q4 2024, Germany's L-Valine market exhibited a continued divergence between the feed-grade and food-grade segments. The feed-grade Valine market remained weak, with prices declining due to sustained low demand from the livestock and poultry sectors. Economic pressures and reduced consumption in neighbouring states further exacerbated the downturn, while global supply-chain disruptions added to the challenges. On the other hand, the food-grade Valine segment showed resilience, experiencing steady price increases driven by stable demand for food additives and ingredients, alongside strategic inventory management by suppliers in November. In December, both grades saw a consistent decline in prices, reflecting broader regional market weakness. This decline was primarily attributed to global oversupply, driven by excessive pre-holiday stockpiling, which led to a significant supply-demand imbalance. As a result, suppliers in both segments were forced to implement price corrections and promotional strategies to manage elevated inventories. Lastly, the logistics disruptions at major ports, such as Rotterdam and Hamburg, had minimal impact on market sentiment, while cautious purchasing behaviour and muted activity in the livestock sector contributed to the overall bearish market outlook for feed grade while a positive trajectory for food grade witnessing a balanced supply-demand side.
For the Quarter Ending September 2024
North America
In Q3 2024, the North American Valine market, particularly in the USA, experienced a significant upward pricing trend, driven by various supply-demand dynamics. Key factors influencing this surge included robust demand across major sectors, disruptions in the supply chain caused by ongoing trade disputes, increasing freight costs, and fluctuations in feedstock prices. Suppliers struggled to maintain adequate inventory levels due to a surge in bulk procurement orders, especially from prominent exporting regions. This intensified pressure on the already constrained supply chain, resulting in tighter availability and driving prices higher.
On the production side, while feedstock costs remained relatively low, reducing overall production costs, the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Chinese yuan and other currencies led to higher import prices. Despite these cost advantages, the ramp-up in production was slower than anticipated, limiting the influx of new inventory and maintaining a tight market. Additionally, the anticipation of potential tariffs on Chinese goods ahead of the U.S. presidential election caused importers to stockpile L-Valine in an effort to mitigate potential price increases, further straining supply chains.
Although shipments gradually resumed, the inventory inflow remained modest, and market volatility persisted. The convergence of bulk purchasing, inflationary pressures, and supply chain disruptions created a challenging market environment. By the end of Q3, L-Valine Feed Grade was priced at USD 2425 per metric ton (CFR New York), while L-Valine Food Grade reached USD 3630 per metric ton (CFR New York), reflecting a continued upward pricing trend amidst a volatile market backdrop.
APAC
In Q3 2024, the Valine market in the APAC region experienced a marked uptrend in prices across both feed and food grades, driven by several key factors. Global demand surged, particularly from sectors such as food, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, significantly influencing price increases. This demand spike was further amplified by seasonal preparations for winter, prompting manufacturers to adjust prices upward while meeting the needs of international buyers. Enhanced logistical operations and improvements in supply chain efficiency supported export activities, contributing indirectly to price escalations. Despite efforts by amino acid producers to stabilize the market by raising quotations, the supply-demand imbalance persisted, exerting upward pressure on prices. In China, where the most pronounced price movements were recorded, the combination of reduced production sentiment, lower manufacturing volumes, and increased unit costs contributed to substantial price hikes. The market, however, showed volatility in the food-grade segment, with prices declining at the start and end of the quarter. Nonetheless, overall market sentiment remained optimistic, as active trading of higher-priced goods continued throughout the period. By the end of Q3, the L-Valine Feed Grade FOB Shanghai price had settled at USD 2165/MT, while the L-Valine Food Grade FOB Shanghai price reached USD 3380/MT, reflecting a consistent upward pricing environment despite periodic fluctuations, driven by strong international demand and supply-side constraints.
Europe
Throughout Q3 2024, the European Valine market witnessed a significant uptrend in prices concerning both feed and food grade, with Germany experiencing the most pronounced changes. Several key factors influenced the market dynamics during this period. A continuous surge in demand from various industries, coupled with limited supply due to disruptions and plant shutdowns and maintenance within the key producing nations created a tight market environment. Rising production costs, supported by the limited availability of the feedstock corn, further pushed prices upwards. Supporting this further, the appreciation of the Euro against the dollar added to the cost pressure, impacting import prices. Seasonal trends also played a role, with the approaching holiday season driving bulk procurement activities and increasing international demand across the feed and food including nutraceuticals sectors additional continued to support this upward trend.聽 Overall, The correlation between these factors led to a continuous increase in prices from the previous quarter with values settled at USD 2500/MT for L-Valine Feed Grade CFR Hamburg and USD 3530/MT for L-Valine Feed Grade CFR Hamburg respectively.
