CalciumCarbonate Prices Trend and Forecast

North America  

CalciumCarbonate prices have demonstrated mixed sentiments in the US market.The prices dropped in October and then improved at a slower pace owing to weak demand fundamentals. In the second half of Q4, the cost support from energy materials was limited in the region. The market players have informed us that the demand from the downstream food additive sector was moderate. The operating rate was stable, and there was sufficient availability of the product to cater to downstream inquiries. Furthermore, the drop in freight charges across the international market and increased container rates have resulted in an overcapacity situation, supporting the decline in the market value of Calcium Carbonate in December. Therefore, Calcium Carbonate Food Grade FOB US Gulf prices were observed to be hovering around USD 774 per ton at the end of the fourth quarter.  

APAC 

The prices of Calcium Carbonatehave plummeted in the Chinese domestic market. The resurgence of COVID cases
and global economic slowdown has weighed over the price value chain of Calcium Carbonate throughout the fourth quarter of 2022. As per the National bureau of statistics, manufacturing activities were also on the lower end in November. The manufacturing firms structured their production following their sales and demand. The limited procurement from the downstream construction and other end-use industries has prompted the manufacturers to slash their offers to maintain market balance. The ChemAnalyst database has shown that Calcium Carbonate (PCC) Indl Grade FOB Shanghai prices were settled at USD 160 per ton in December. 

Europe 

In the German market, the priceof Calcium Carbonate has remained on the upper edge in the fourth quarter of 2022. The limited supplies of natural gas have impacted the production costs of Calcium Carbonate. The market players have increased their offers to maintain their profit margins. However, the raging inflation has slowed down the construction sector and weakened consumer sentiments. On the demand side, the offtakes from the end-use industries were slower than expected. In December, although Natural gas prices decreased, they were still high enough for manufacturers tomaintain their profit margins. In addition, a lack of skilled workforce and high electricity costs has also impacted the price realizations of Calcium Carbonate. Consequently, Calcium Carbonate Industrial Grade CFR Hamburg prices were assessed at USD 410 per ton at Q4-end. 

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