Weekly Trade Information-197

Vitamin B6 Market Slumps to Historic Lows; L-Lysine Sulfate Stays Stable

The vitamin B6 market is bearish this month with sluggish overall demand. Its current market price stands at RMB 102–105 per kilogram, slipping once again to an all-time low.

By contrast, L-lysine sulfate has maintained relatively steady quotations recently. Some manufacturers are already operating at a loss and are strongly inclined to prop up prices. The product is already priced at a comparatively low level, having basically bottomed out with limited room for further declines.
Downstream end users have gradually placed orders and taken delivery, supporting stable market trading. Its price is expected to remain flat in the near term.

(Source: Hangzhou Weigao)
 

Approved as New Food Ingredient! Is Vine Tea, Known as the "King of Flavonoids", Poised for Rapid Growth?

Ampelopsis grossedentata is abundant in various active constituents, including flavonoids, phenols, steroids, terpenoids and volatile compounds. Flavonoids serve as its principal active ingredient, accounting for 43% of its total content. Approximately 30 types of flavonoids have been isolated from Ampelopsis grossedentata, such as dihydromyricetin, quercetin, myricetin, hesperidin, apigenin and ampelopsin.

On May 27, 2026, the National Health Commission of China issued Announcement No.5 of 2026 regarding 16 categories of three new food-related products including peony seed oil, officially approving Ampelopsis grossedentata leaf polyphenols as a new food ingredient.

(Source: Food Research & Application FTA)
 

Moroccan Dietary Supplement Industry Coalition Opposes Reclassifying Supplements with Therapeutic Claims as Prescription Drugs

On June 11, 2026, the national coalition representing Morocco’s entire dietary supplement industry issued a joint public objection to a newly adopted legislative amendment in the country. The new regulation proposes reclassifying health supplements bearing therapeutic effect claims as prescription medicines, which may only be sold exclusively through physical pharmacies, banning sales via e-commerce platforms, supermarkets and distributors.

The industry coalition launched a petition backed by more than 150 enterprises and over ten trade associations. It warns the policy will directly push up product prices and restrict consumers’ purchasing channels, impacting over 5,000 upstream and downstream businesses and threatening 120,000 jobs.

Morocco’s domestic industrial chain for nutritional supplements and functional food additives heavily relies on diversified distribution channels. A pharmacy-exclusive monopoly will shrink export opportunities for local raw material producers and block access to the North African market for overseas functional additives and imported dietary supplements.

(Source: Telquel)
 

Iran Announces Immediate Closure of Strait of Hormuz, Banning Passage of All Merchant Vessels

Latest news from Xinhua News Agency: Iran's armed forces stated on the 11th that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to all vessels with immediate effect, and any ship attempting unauthorized passage will be targeted for strikes.

Multiple Iranian media outlets reported that the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran's armed forces released a statement in the early hours of the 11th, noting that amid turbulent regional security conditions, the strait is shut down for all ships including oil tankers and merchant vessels. Any vessel violating the ban will face military targeting. Iran also refuted U.S. statements regarding vessel navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

(Source: Yi Shipping)
 

Ocean Freight Rates Surge Sharply

International ocean freight rates saw a dramatic jump in the first week of June 2026, dealing a direct blow to the seaborne import and export logistics of China’s health supplement raw materials and food additives.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) surged 23% week-on-week. Freight rates for the Shanghai–Los Angeles and Shanghai–Rotterdam routes jumped by 31% and 25% respectively. Carriers including Maersk and CMA CGM simultaneously imposed peak season surcharges, resulting in acute space shortages and drastically harder booking access.

Bulk raw materials such as whey protein, lutein, hyaluronic acid, food colorants and preservative additives largely rely on full-container sea freight for imports and exports. Small and medium-sized ingredient firms without long-term shipping contracts have faced a marked increase in logistics costs.

Compounding the issue, the United States rolled out new customs interception codes in June, leading to more frequent inspections of supplement raw materials and food additives. Some shipments have been held up upon arrival at destination ports. As a result, enterprises have had to moderately raise their overseas supply quotations, while import and export turnover cycles have lengthened accordingly.

(Source: FoodMate Network)