Ingredient Prices Going Up In 2014: Find Out Which Ones

Ingredient prices are constantly changing, and 2014 is no exception. Distributor Green Wave Ingredients (GWI; La Mirada, CA) has the word on which ingredients will likely see price hikes in the coming year-as well as which will remain stable or decrease-based on information from its China-based manufacturers, as well as the company’s own market trend analysis.

On the Rise

Prices of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are on the rise and may be volatile this year. While prices were low in 2013-particularly for valine and leucine-due to oversupply from China, they are expected to recover this year and “supply might get tight,” GWI warns. Glutamine prices are also expected to change; while the price dipped to record lows in early fall 2013, by the end of the year prices started to rise. But “this increase does not forecast a continuously rising price level at this point,” the company says. Stay tuned.

BCAA popularity in the sports nutrition market is one reason demand is growing over supply.

“The sports nutrition industry has a significantly broader base of consumers than in the past. The industry has been penetrating new consumer segments beyond the hardcore athlete,” says Jim Schultz, GWI’s founder and CEO. “Now, the everyday consumer segment is focused less on performance and more on elevated nutrition for wellness and health reasons. As the market segments continue to grow, supply and demand is the key for these price increases.”

The good news? Schultz predicts BCAA prices will stabilize as industry increases production capacity. Also, he suggests keeping an eye on the pre-workout nutritional supplement market, as “we observe more orders and a strong, consistent demand” from that category.

As for other ingredients, look for price hikes for ascorbic acid and choline bitartrate. Ascorbic acid prices spiked significantly since November 2013-about 15%-20%. They will likely continue rising over the first half of 2014-a change from the first half of 2013, when prices hit record lows. Rising prices may be due to “the loss that manufacturers experienced for about two years, as well as the cutback in output, which some of the manufacturers use to control their supply levels,” says GWI. “Some manufacturers only supply [for] the need of their established customers to fulfill blanket orders, but don’t accept any business from new customers.”

A “booming” market drove up prices for choline bitartrate, the company says. Supply is now tighter, and prices and demand will continue rising during the first half of this year. “The situation could possibly change in the second half of 2014 if new manufacturers decide to tap into this market,” GWI says.

Dipping Down

Two ingredients that won’t break the bank this year are sodium hyaluronate and sucralose. Sodium hyaluronate prices are expected to decrease gradually over the year due to growing competition.

The sucralose market was “weak” last year, driving prices down to their lowest last December. Oversupply will continue lowering prices this year. “The current price level may force manufacturers to close down or lower their production cost, but as they have already made investments, the production will continue and the market will stay competitive,” says GWI.

Steady Goes It

While prices might not decrease, they will at least remain steady for many ingredients.

• Acetyl L-carnitine: Prices will remain stable “as long as factories keep up production.”

• Betaine: “Widely used in the nutrition and food industry, with a growing demand from the pharmaceutical industry….supply will remain adequate during 2014, and the market will be stable over the next months with a tendency to slightly decrease in the long run.”

• CoQ10: “No predictable change at this point for 2014.”

• Creatine: “Based on the huge demand during the first half of 2013, some creatine manufacturers expanded their production capabilities, some are currently in the process, and some…new factories will begin…production soon. However, due to the increasing labor cost and stricter pollution control, the price is not expected to decrease at this point and is predicted to remain stable.”

• Glucosamine: Although prices gradually increased between May to September 2013, they stabilized-albeit at a high price-and will stay steady.

• L-arginine: Weak market demand led to lower prices last year. “At this point, it is difficult to predict the market trend for 2014, as this will be strongly dependent on the demand for finished products of this ingredient.”

• L-citrulline/Citrulline malate: Coming off a flat 2013, prices will remain steady-at least during Q1 2014. After that, prices may steadily go up.

• L-leucine regular: The market “boomed” in 2013. But “supply is currently greater than the market demand, which leads to price stability, even though raw material costs are slightly increasing.”

• MSM: Stable prices and supply in 2013. Stable prices predicted for Q1 2014, but stable prices thereafter will depend on the raw-material price of DMSO.

• Taurine: Lots of supply; stable prices predicted in 2014

• Xylitol: Slight oversupply, and prices are at low levels-but a further price dip is not yet imminent.

• Glutathione: “Supply [was] tight around 2013, but with a new manufacturing facility opened in October 2013, the production capability increased by around 60%.” Expect even prices and supply levels to continue in 2014.

Formulating Options Despite Price Changes

How can formulators make decisions when dealing with prices unknown? Partner with a distributor like GWI with a constant ear to the ground-both domestically and in China-on supply and demand, of course. Historical data also helps paint a helpful picture of price cycles.

But also, lock in blanket orders with your distributor, Schultz advises. “An agreement based on a fixed price can help to prevent price jumps and sudden increase of costs,” he tells Nutritional Outlook. “Working with a distributor that is creative with a large purchasing volume can assist in lowering down costs.”

A distributor can also help save costs by optimizing supply-chain management. “As UPS/freight costs are increasing as well starting out in 2014, manufacturers should…ask their supplier for package deals and customized freight options,” Schultz says.

Jennifer Grebow
Editor-in-Chief
Nutritional Outlook magazine
jennifer.grebow@ubm.com