In the first half of 2026, China exported US$510 million worth of citric acid, which falls under HS code 29181400. That figure represents an 18.05 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Export volume reached 707,000 tons, up 9.24 percent, while the average price climbed 8.07 percent to US$0.72 per kilogram. Looking ahead, the global citric acid market is expected to expand from US$3.97 billion in 2025 to US$6.81 billion by 2034.
1. Monthly Export Trend
Exports showed a clear upward trajectory from January to June, with both volume and value peaking in June.
| Month | Volume (tons) | Value (US$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 111,084 | 73 |
| Feb | 110,000 | 69 |
| Mar | 133,285 | 90 |
| Apr | 120,000 | 89 |
| May | 120,000 | 94 |
| Jun | 120,000 | 97 |
Key observation: After a slight dip in February, volumes stabilised around 120,000 tons from March to June, while values steadily climbed—indicating improving unit prices and stronger demand in the second quarter.
2. Export Destination Distribution
China shipped citric acid to 166 countries. The top three markets—India, Russia, and Mexico—together accounted for 21.4% of total value.
| Rank | Country | Value (US$ million) | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 50.55 | 9.9% |
| 2 | Russia | 33.32 | 6.5% |
| 3 | Mexico | 25.41 | 5.0% |
Notable growth: Russia surged 128.95% year‑on‑year, driven by supply chain shifts and Chinese competitiveness. India remains the single largest buyer, supported by its growing processed‑food sector.
3. Regional Distribution
Exports spanned all six continents, but Asia and Europe dominated. The data below clearly show a two‑segment pie: over 70% concentrated in these two regions.
| Region | Value (US$ million) | YoY Growth | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 208.0 | +12.34% | 40.8% |
| Europe | 163.0 | +25.69% | 32.0% |
| Latin America | 68.1 | +10.38% | 13.4% |
| Africa | 47.4 | +17.21% | 9.3% |
| North America | 15.6 | +80.40% | 3.1% |
| Oceania | 7.6 | +24.04% | 1.5% |
Highlight: North America, though small in absolute terms, showed explosive growth (80.4%), signalling emerging opportunities in the US and Canadian markets.
4. RCEP Countries Performance
Exports to RCEP members totalled US$92.39 million, up 44.97% year‑on‑year, accounting for 18.1% of overall exports. Cambodia recorded the fastest growth (+131.49%), while Malaysia saw a decline (-15.17%). This region is rapidly becoming a secondary growth engine.
5. Provincial Concentration
Exports are heavily concentrated in Shandong, which alone supplies over 80% of the national total. This reflects the province’s integrated industrial chain.
| Province | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Shandong | 81.07 |
| Jiangsu | 5.89 |
| Jilin | 4.83 |
| Shanghai | 2.28 |
| Anhui | 2.17 |
| Gansu | 0.92 |
| Guangdong | 0.54 |
| Hunan | 0.49 |
| Fujian | 0.38 |
| Zhejiang | 0.35 |
The top five provinces account for 96.24% of total exports, indicating a highly centralised production base.
6. Outlook
- Market diversification is accelerating: traditional strongholds (Asia/Europe) remain stable, but North America, Africa, and Latin America are gaining traction.
- Price recovery (up 8%) suggests a shift from low‑cost competition toward value‑based positioning.
- Green production and high‑purity derivatives will be key differentiators in the coming years.
- Enterprises should leverage data intelligence to target high‑potential markets like Vietnam, Algeria, and Kazakhstan, while deepening footprints in RCEP countries.
