Vitamin B5 (D-calcium pantothenate) 

Vitamin B5 (D-calcium pantothenate) 

is white powder; odorless, slightly bitter in taste; hygroscopic; aqueous solution exhibits neutral or weak alkaline reaction. Calcium pantothenate is easily soluble in water and glycerol, but insoluble in alcohol, chloroform and ether.

For medicine, food and feed additives. It is a component of coenzyme A, which is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is clinically used to treat vitamin B deficiency, peripheral neuritis, and post-operative colic. Participate in the metabolism of protein, fat and sugar in the body. With the function of producing antibodies, it also plays an important role in maintaining the health of hair, skin and blood.

CAS No.:137-08-6

CAS Formula:C18H32O10N2Ca

Analysis of the reasons for the price increase of calcium pantothenate from the source

1.Market supply pattern

China's calcium pantothenate/panthenol production accounts for more than 85% of the global market share

Although many new manufacturers of calcium pantothenate have appeared successively, the highly oligopolistic market structure has not changed completely. There are still five major global manufacturers: Yifan Pharmaceutical, Shandong Xinfa, DSM Netherlands, BASF Germany and Shandong Huachen .

2. Market key points

There are two key intermediates/raw materials for the production of calcium D-pantothenate: DL-pantolactone (or D-pantolactone) and calcium alanine (or alanine). Among them, D-pantolactone is produced by microbial enzymatic splitting of DL-pantolactone. Enzymatic technology is the key technology for the development of calcium pantothenate industry in China.

The main calcium pantothenate production enterprises have their own production of two key intermediates, and can also purchase pantolactone through strategic cooperation and obtain a long-term stable supply guarantee. However, in the newly opened calcium pantothenate factory in the past two years, its key raw materials/intermediate alanine and/or pantolactone need to be purchased. 

Another key raw material (intermediate) pantolactone. Since it is only used in the synthesis of calcium pantothenate, in addition to several large calcium pantothenate enterprises that are self-produced, there are currently only two pantolactone manufacturers in China, one of which is located in Shandong and the other is located in Fushun. 

Therefore, in addition to self-produced pantolactones and factories with reliable partners, under the current environmental protection and safety pressure, a stable supply of pantolactones is one of the necessary conditions to ensure a stable supply of calcium pantothenate. 

Safety supervision and strict environmental inspections have become key factors affecting the production and supply of calcium pantothenate and its intermediate pantolactone, especially the tight market supply of pantothenate, which will limit the output of calcium pantothenate from outsourced raw material factories.

3. Market review

The price of calcium pantothenate has been on the rise since 2016. The reasons for the price increase are as follows:

• China's calcium pantothenate exports have increased year by year, which has an impact on the domestic supply pattern
  
• With the improvement of national and local environmental protection requirements, some factories have been asked by environmental protection inspectors to limit production.
  
• Major plant shutdowns and production curbs lead to supply shortages
  

4. Recent and future price trends of calcium pantothenate

Differences in production processes and differences in production costs are no longer the main factors affecting the price trend of calcium pantothenate. According to the existing situation, it is speculated that the market supply and demand balance will be in a tight state. 

The reasons for affecting production and supply may be as follows: environmental protection and safety pressure, reduced production capacity, and market inventory (the intermediate links and end users have very little calcium pantothenate inventory.

5. Summary

Although domestic terminal demand is currently weak, there are very few calcium pantothenate inventories in intermediate links and end users. Affected by various factors, the possibility of fully releasing the production capacity of newly entered factories has dropped significantly. The status and attitude of major upstream manufacturers determine the future trend of calcium pantothenate. Under the condition that the market strategy has reached a certain tacit understanding, it is the general trend that the price will continue to rise.