Citric acid price December 2025 and outlook (see chart below)
- North America:US$1.58/KG, unchanged
- Northeast Asia:US$0.84/KG, unchanged
- Europe:US$1.63/KG, -0.6% down
- Southeast Asia:US$1.21/KG, -0.8% down
- India:US$1.63/KG, -4.1% down
- South America:US$1.28/KG, unchanged
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Citric acid price index
This post is a summary of the Citric acid price developments. The price developments of Citric acid are expressed in US$ prices converted FX rates applicable at the time when the price was valid. Citric acid price index developments are calculated from multiple separate sources of data to ensure statistical accuracy.
The outlook for Citric acid prices is generated from different inputs including:
- Very recent price developments of immediate cost drivers of Citric acid prices
- Recent price developments of underlying feedstocks which drive the price of Citric acid
- Market futures for both cost drives and feedstocks of Citric acid prices
- Adjustment of current supply/demand imbalances in the Citric acid market
- Longer term trends in likely demand conditions
What is citric acid and what is it used for
Citric acid is a naturally occurring organic acid (weak tricarboxylic acid) found in citrus fruits and many other plants; commercially it is a white, water-soluble crystalline powder used widely as an acidulant, flavoring agent, preservative and pH buffer. Its main applications are in food and beverages (soft drinks, confectionery, preserves), pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements (stability, flavor, chelation), cosmetics and personal-care products (pH adjustment, preservative boost), and household/industrial cleaners (calcium and rust removal due to its metal-chelating properties).
How is citric acid produced
Almost all commercial citric acid is produced by microbial fermentation rather than extraction from fruit; the dominant industrial route uses the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger fermenting a sugar feedstock (glucose, sucrose, or molasses) under controlled conditions, followed by recovery and crystallization. Production variants include submerged (liquid) fermentation, surface and solid-state methods, and ongoing R&D focuses on strain improvement, substrate optimisation and greener feedstocks.
How large is the global market for citric acid
Estimates vary by metric (value vs. volume) and by analyst, but recent market reports put the global citric acid market in the low-to-mid billions of USD and around ~2.8–3.0 million tonnes (approx.) in volume for the mid-2020s; market value estimates for 2023–2025 range roughly from about USD 2.9–3.8 billion, with expected modest compound annual growth (mid single digits) driven by food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and cleaning product demand.
Where is citric acid produced
Large-scale production is concentrated in Asia (notably China and Thailand), with significant manufacturing and export activity in parts of Europe (Belgium, Germany and other EU producers) and facilities in the Americas; global trade data show China as the single largest exporter by volume/value, while production clusters reflect feedstock availability, fermentation capacity and established chemical supply chains.