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Table of Contents
 
Summary
Introduction
Manufacturing Processes
Environmental Issues
Food - Europe
Cosmetics - Europe
Supply and Demand by Region
United States
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Production
Consumption
Food and Beverages
Beverages
Food processing
Cheese and other dairy products
Other
Household Detergents and Cleaners
Liquids
Powders
Other
Pharmaceuticals
Cosmetics
Industrial and Other
Metal finishing and cleaning
Other
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Canada
Consumption
Price
Trade
Mexico
Trade
Brazil
Colombia
Europe, Middle East and africa
Corporate Activities
Associations and Interest Groups
Western Europe
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Production
Consumption
Food and Beverages
Beverages
Food
Household Detergents and Cleaners
Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics
Industrial and Other
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Central and Eastern Europe
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Africa
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Middle East
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Japan
Producing Companies
Salient Statistics
Consumption
Food and Beverages
Industrial
Pharmaceutical and Other
Price
Trade
Imports
Exports
Other Asia
Producing Companies
Production
Trade
China
Republic of Korea
Taiwan
   
  Citric Acid
   
  Michael Malveda and Yoshio Inoguchi and Hossein Janshekar
  Published August 2006
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  Abstract
   
 

Citric acid is a commodity chemical produced and consumed throughout the world. It is used mainly in the food and beverage industry, primarily as an acidulant. It is estimated that over 65% of the citric acid produced is consumed for food and beverages. Global capacity in 2005 was about 1,600 thousand metric tons. The majority of production capacity and consumption was in China, Western Europe and the United States. China is estimated to account for at least half of global production capacity, while Western Europe and the United States combined account for about a third. Western Europe, the United States and China combined are estimated to account for 65–70% of global citric acid consumption. The citric acid industry continues to be influenced by increased supply from China and abundant global capacity. In recent years, plant closures have occurred as a result of competition, and prices have continued to decline.

In 2005, the top six producing companies accounted for about 53% of the world’s total capacity for citric acid. China’s capacity was 800 thousand metric tons (50% of world capacity), most of which is unrefined citric acid. The global production capacity of the world’s six largest citric acid–producing companies, plus China (which produces mostly unrefined citric acid), is shown below.

Over half of global consumption of citric acid is used for the beverage industry. The food industry consumes about 15–20%, followed by detergent and soaps (15–17%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (7–9%), and industrial uses (6–8%).

The following pie chart shows world consumption of citric acid by region in 2005:

In the United States, the citric acid market will continue to grow mainly as a result of growth in the beverage market. New product introductions and continued use in diet colas, fruit-flavored waters, iced teas and sports drinks will lead to higher growth. Liquid detergent growth will also contribute to growing citric acid demand. New growth will also be seen in industrial applications, as renewable resources continue to grow. In Canada, citric acid use may increase significantly as a result of use in oil recovery.

In Europe, the market is impacted by price, which is driven down by a combination of strong competition from Chinese product and an abundance of global capacity. European producers are contending with imports from Chinese producers. While the average prices were declining, Chinese imports of citric acid to Western Europe grew from roughly 46 thousand metric tons in 1999 to 109 thousand metric tons in 2004. Chinese competition is mainly in citric acid monohydrate (solid form) and among citrates in sodium citrate, the most-used-form of citric acid salts. Chinese suppliers have started to adopt Western pricing practices, which might lead to a more stabilized price. In the future, European manufacturers of citric acid and citrates might concentrate on the production of citric acid solutions (using solid form produced in-house or imported) and/or higher-value citrates.

The citric acid market continues to face pressure from Asian imports and increased global supply causing selling prices to decline. However, tight supplies from Europe caused by closures, and high energy and freight costs are some of the factors leading to higher citric acid prices. The overall global market for citric acid is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.5–4.5% in the next few years.

 
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