Weekly Trade Information-200

Surging Demand for Summer Cold Drinks & Ice Cream Drives Sharp Rise in Xanthan Gum Exports

As manufacturers of cold beverages, dairy products, fruit juices and sauces worldwide enter their peak purchasing season for summer, global shipments of high-viscosity xanthan gum have accelerated remarkably.

Transoceanic shipments in summer are prone to powder caking due to high humidity. Leading domestic producers therefore ship bulk export goods predominantly in 25-kilogram triple-layer composite paper bags lined with high-density moisture-proof plastic film.

Major international food conglomerates have released rolling Q3 orders in bulk this week. Customers with purchasing needs are advised to secure production capacity from core manufacturers well in advance.

(Sources: Global Market Insights / Feedback from Global Food Ingredient Production Lines)
 

Global Bulk Prices of Anhydrous Citric Acid Rebound

Following a previous phase of overcapacity and fierce price competition, the global anhydrous citric acid market has fully entered a cycle of bottoming out and mild recovery this mid-2026, driven by surging seasonal demand for acidulants in summer beverages across the globe.

Major overseas FMCG buyers have shifted their inquiry and purchasing strategies. Most have abandoned long-term blind stockpiling and adopted a high-frequency, medium-batch ordering schedule based on actual production plans, to spread out cyclical risks brought by logistics costs and price volatility.

(Source: Commodity Analysis, Procurement Resource)
 

Dual Growth Trends: Clean Label Ingredients & GLP-1 Companion Nutrition

Two dominant development trends have emerged across the industry this week: clean label formulations and nutritional ingredients tailored for GLP-1 users.

On the regulatory front, updated registration rules for new chemical substances have taken effect, pushing up registration costs for synthetic food additives. The sector is speeding up the phase-out of chemical processing aids with high residual levels, fueling rapid growth in demand for natural plant-based emulsifiers and bio-fermented stabilizers. Import substitution of domestic natural ingredients derived from soybeans and microalgae is also accelerating.

From a consumer perspective, raw materials for supplementary supplements compatible with weight-loss medications have become a hot spot for innovation. Orders for β-lactoglobulin, high-fiber prebiotics and liposomal sustained-release nutrients jumped 22% month-on-month; these ingredients focus on muscle preservation and relieving gastrointestinal discomfort.

At the distribution channel level, compound herbal blends of medicinal and edible plants, microalgae nutrients and targeted delivery technologies serve as core differentiators for brands. Export markets keep raising entry thresholds for raw materials, requiring formulations free of artificial colorants and synthetic antioxidants. Raw material manufacturers are generally ramping up investment in natural extraction production lines.

(Sources: NutraIngredients Asia Ingredients Weekly, China Food News)
 

Ocean Freight Costs for Chinese Functional Raw Materials Rise Across All Lanes

Data released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange this week shows ocean shipping costs for exported Chinese functional raw materials have climbed across all routes. Carriers including Maersk and MSC have hiked peak season surcharges for Europe and US lanes effective July. Rates for 40-foot dry containers bound for Europe rose 11% week-on-week, while reefer container rates jumped by 16%.

Vitamins, plant extracts and liquid food additives mostly require temperature-controlled storage, leading to 7–10 day extensions in vessel booking lead times. Multiple supplement raw material manufacturers have shifted cargo to sea-rail intermodal transport to ease capacity pressure.

Meanwhile, customs authorities have stepped up inspections for powdered additives shipped by sea, requiring complete MSDS documents and food-contact packaging test reports to accompany shipments. Heat-sensitive polyphenols and astaxanthin suffer accelerated active ingredient degradation during high-temperature ocean transit. Freight forwarders widely recommend nitrogen-sealed packaging with full-process temperature control as the optimal shipping solution.

Upcoming Suez Canal transit toll hikes will further push up logistics expenses for long-haul exports. Raw material producers are locking in long-term shipping contracts for the third quarter to hedge against rising freight costs.

(Source: Shanghai Shipping Exchange)
 

Common Regulatory Challenges Facing Europe’s Food Supplement Industry & Coordinated Industrial Solutions

The EU’s current basic legislation only specifies permitted types and source lists of vitamins and minerals for food supplements, without harmonized daily maximum intake limits. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released multiple scientific assessment reports on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs), yet supporting implementing regulations are still pending.

Based on data compiled and sorted by industry associations, active raw materials are currently categorized into four regulatory status groups:

1. Explicitly prohibited ingredients: Ephedra, Yohimbe;
2. Under safety evaluation procedures (enterprises need to submit supplementary risk data to secure lenient regulation): Black Cohosh, Green Tea Catechins, Curcumin, Aloe Preparations, Sweet/Bitter Fennel, Maca, Tribulus Terrestris, Ashwagandha, Tryptophan;
3. Scheduled for prohibition proceedings: Hydroxycitric Acid-containing botanicals, Melaleuca Essential Oil, Holy Basil, Rheum Palmatum, Rheum Officinale, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada, Senna Leaf, Monacolin from Red Yeast Rice, Piperine, Citrus Synephrine;
4. Botanical ingredients including Coumarin and St. John’s Wort have obtained favorable regulatory treatment through comprehensive data submissions.

Against the above regulatory risks, industry associations prioritize joint collection of raw material safety data and collective submission of regulatory appeals as core workstreams.

(Source: China Nutrition and Health Food Association)