Vitamin A (VA) is a fat-soluble vitamin and organic compound that is stable in heat, acid, and alkali environments and is easily oxidised, with UV light accelerating its oxidative damage. Vitamin A is divided into two types, A1 and A2; of these compounds, A1 denotes retinol, while vitamin A2, or 3-dehydroretinol, has a physiological activity that is 40% higher than that of vitamin A1. Vitamin A has important physiological functions such as promoting growth and reproduction, maintaining bones, epithelial tissue, vision, and normal secretion of mucosal epithelium.
Vitamin A Industry Chain
In terms of industrial chain, the upstream is mainly for the extraction of raw materials, mainly involving the production of key raw materials such as citral, of which citral is an important raw material for the synthesis of β-violet ketone, and β-violet ketone is the starting material for the synthesis of vitamin A. The midstream is for the production of vitamin A, whose production process involves a complex chemical reaction and purification process; and the downstream is for the application areas, including feed, medicine, food and other The downstream is the application field, including feed, medicine, food and other fields.
Current status of the vitamin A industry
Vitamins are essential micronutrients for the growth and development of the human body and animals. Among the product segments, vitamins B, VE, VC and VA account for the largest market share, while vitamin A has a complex production process and relies on key intermediates, with relatively high added value. In recent years, the production capacity of the vitamin A industry has been expanding, and over the past 21 years, the industry as a whole has been experiencing a trend of oversupply, declining prosperity, and decreasing prices; however, due to the explosion of a BASF plant in Germany on 29 July 2024, it is expected that the price of vitamin A will continue to rise.
Vitamin A key companies
At present, the supply pattern of vitamin A in the world is relatively stable, with high market concentration, and the main producers include DSM-Firmenich, BASF, NHU, etc. These enterprises occupy a dominant position in the market, forming an obvious oligopolistic competition pattern, and they have significant advantages in production technology, product quality and cost control, etc., which can satisfy the diversified demands of domestic and foreign markets.
Founded in 1999, Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd. focuses on the research and development, production, sales and service of functional chemicals such as nutrients, fragrances, polymer materials, etc., and provides comprehensive solutions in the fields of nutrition and health, daily care, transportation, environmental protection and energy for customers in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. With leading technology, scientific management and honest service, Xinhecheng has now become one of the world's four largest vitamin producers, one of the country's top 100 fine chemical companies, one of the top 10 companies in China's light industry's spice industry, and a renowned producer of speciality engineering plastics.In 2023, Xinhecheng's total operating income was RMB 15.117 billion.
Vitamin A industry development trend
In the future development, with the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the demand for vitamin A will continue to increase, especially in medicine, food, feed and so on. At the same time, with the progress of science and technology, the preparation process of vitamin A is also being improved and innovated. This will help improve product quality, reduce production costs, and promote the industry to the direction of intelligent, green development, and the industry's leading enterprises will increase investment in R & D, promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading, to optimise the production process, improve production efficiency as the main means to improve the competitiveness of enterprises.
Source:CCM
More information can be found at CCM Dairy Sugar&sweeteners China Monthly Report.
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