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China and the United States are the leading exporters of levulinic acid (CAS 123-76-2), collectively accounting for over 60% of global exports in 2023–2024, while Germany, South Korea, and India represent the largest importing markets. Levulinic acid prices have remained relatively stable amid steady demand from pharmaceutical and biopolymer sectors. Exports from China have expanded modestly year-on-year, while U.S. shipments have plateaued, and European imports—particularly by Germany—have grown steadily, reflecting increased regional uptake in green chemistry applications.
# Levulinic Acid Market Dynamics Intelligence (Mid-October to November 12, 2026)
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## I. Price Overview
| Date | Delivery Location | Manufacturer | Specification | Price (CNY/ton) | Packaging |
|------|-------------------|--------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------|
| 11-10 | Jinan, Shandong | Shandong Jinshengrun Chemical | 99.5% | 24,000 | 200kg/drum |
| 11-10 | Zibo, Shandong | Shandong Qiangsen Chemical | 99.5% | 24,000 | 200kg/drum |
| 11-10 | Suzhou, Jiangsu | Jiangsu Xinsu New Materials | 99.5% | 24,800 | 200kg/drum |
| 11-10 | Suzhou, Jiangsu | Suzhou Senfida Chemical | 99.5% | 30,000 | 200kg/drum |
| 11-09 | Shandong | Shanghai Muqiangsen International Trade | 99.5% | 22,000 | — |
**Price Trend Characteristics**:
- Mainstream quotes in Shandong have stabilized at **24,000 CNY/ton**, remaining flat for several consecutive days since November 4, indicating a sideways trend;
- Quotes in the Jiangsu region range from **24,800 to 30,000 CNY/ton**, showing significant divergence. Senfida's quote is approximately 21% higher than the mainstream, likely reflecting a premium for small-batch or high-purity customized products;
- The quote of 22,000 CNY/ton by Shanghai Muqiangsen on November 9 was a short-term low-price fluctuation, which reverted to the mainstream range by November 10.
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## II. Supply and Demand Landscape Analysis
**2.1 Supply Side: Concentrated Capacity, Regional Differentiation**
- **Shandong** (Jinan, Zibo) is the primary production region for current quotes. The consistent pricing from Jinshengrun and Qiangsen establishes a regional price anchor;
- **Jiangsu** (Suzhou) represents the high-price zone, where the coexistence of Xinsu New Materials and Senfida reflects stronger demand for refined downstream products, along with higher logistics and brand premiums;
- In 2026, China's levulinic acid production is projected to account for **35.6%** of the global total. With multiple million-ton-scale biomass refining and chemical integration projects entering the operational phase, raw material costs continue to decline, maintaining pressure on the supply side.
**2.2 Demand Side: Multi-Driven, Accelerating in High-End Segments**
- **Chemical intermediates** remain the largest demand sector, accounting for approximately **45.2%**, driven by high-value derivatives such as gamma-valerolactone and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid;
- Demand for **pharmaceutical-grade and electronic-grade** levulinic acid is growing at an annual rate of over **25%**, with the market share of refined products rising to **62.3%**;
- Emerging sectors such as biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and lithium battery electrolyte additives are becoming new growth engines.
**2.3 Inventory and Circulation**
- According to SunSirs (B2B platform) data, Shandong Jinshengrun listed 34 tons on November 10 with a validity period of only 3 days, while Jiangsu Xinsu listed 10 tons with a 7-day validity period. This indicates **limited short-term supply, with the market primarily driven by rigid demand**;
- Alibaba platform data shows active spot trading for small packaging (1kg–25kg), but industrial-grade large orders are still mainly supplied directly by manufacturers via negotiated prices, resulting in low price transparency in wholesale channels.
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## III. Analysis of Core Influencing Factors
| Factor | Impact Direction | Intensity |
|--------|------------------|-----------|
| Raw material (acetone, isobutyraldehyde) price fluctuations | Cost-side disturbance | ★★★★ |
| Stricter environmental policies (\"Dual Carbon\" goals, EU Green Deal) | Promotes bio-based substitution and elimination of outdated capacity | ★★★★★ |
| Mature but still costly bio-based technology | Long-term positive, short-term constraint | ★★★ |
| Surge in downstream pharmaceutical/new energy demand | Demand pull | ★★★★ |
| High industry concentration (Top 5 account for 58.4%) | Concentrated pricing power | ★★★★ |
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## IV. Analytical Judgments
1. **Short-term (1–2 weeks): Prices remain stable with range-bound fluctuations.** Shandong's 24,000 CNY/ton has formed strong support, while Jiangsu's 24,800 CNY/ton represents the regional high. Senfida's 30,000 CNY/ton is an individual premium case and not representative of the broader market. The low price of 22,000 CNY/ton on November 9 was quickly corrected, indicating a clear market consensus on the bottom price.
2. **Medium-term (1–3 months): Probability of price increase exceeds probability of decrease.** The global market size is expected to reach **USD 4.85 billion** in 2026 (YoY +17.8%). As the share of refined products continues to rise, high-end demand growth significantly outpaces the average. If raw material costs stabilize and winter environmental production restrictions intensify, prices are expected to test the **25,000–26,000 CNY/ton** range.
3. **Long-term (6–12 months): Structural upward trend established.** The wave of transition to bio-based chemicals is irreversible. Breakthroughs in synthetic biology will reshape the cost curve; however, the pace of capacity release during the technology transition period will determine the slope of the price increase.
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## V. Forecasts and Recommendations
| Timeframe | Price Forecast (99.5% Domestic, CNY/ton) | Core Logic |
|-----------|------------------------------------------|------------|
| Next 2 weeks | 24,000–25,000 | Sideways consolidation, supported by rigid demand |
| 1–3 months | 25,000–27,000 | Peak season stocking + environmental production restrictions |
| 6–12 months | 27,000–30,000+ | Volume growth in high-end demand + capacity optimization |
**Operational Recommendations**:
- **Buyers**: Current price levels allow for moderate volume locking, especially at Shandong's 24,000 CNY/ton, which offers a safety margin;
- **Traders**: Monitor opportunities for price convergence between Jiangsu and Shandong, as well as the premium potential for refined-grade products;
- **Investors**: Focus on tracking progress in bio-based technology breakthroughs and M&A activities among leading enterprises. Industry consolidation will trigger a new round of valuation re-rating.
Levulinic acid is a white to off-white crystalline solid at room temperature, with a faint acrid odor and moderate water solubility; it melts at approximately 33–35 °C and decomposes before boiling under atmospheric pressure. It is a versatile aliphatic keto acid and a key platform chemical derived from renewable biomass—particularly cellulose and starch—via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Industrially, it serves as a critical intermediate in the synthesis of γ-valerolactone (GVL), diphenolic acid, and various esters used as green solvents and plasticizers. Its derivatives find established application in agrochemicals (e.g., plant growth regulators), pharmaceuticals (e.g., active pharmaceutical ingredient precursors), and performance additives for coatings and polymers.
Levulinic acid is a biomass product and its derivatives, such as ethyl levulinate and alkyl levulinate, can be used as fuel additives.levulinic acid is used for calcium levulinate in pharmaceuticals, as esters in solvents and plasticizers, and for making valerolactone. As its uses expand, it will probably be made from cellulosic wastes. Mesitonic acid, a homolog of levulinic acid is obtained by boiing mesityl oxide with KCN.Hydrogenation of levulinic acid can produce other useful chemicals. Valeric-g-lactone, which is an effective solvent with extensive uses, can be obtained in very high yields. This compound may be hydrogenated to 1,4-pentandiol, which upon dehydration yields 1,3-pentadine (piperylene). Piperylene is known to polymerize to a rubbery mass and is therefore a source of synthetic rubber (Ghorpade and Hanna 1997).Levulinic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of useful intermediates such as γ-valerolactone, ethyl levulinate, pentanoic acid and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran. Derivatization and esterification of levulinic acid results in potential biofuels.It can also be used in:The preparation of catalytic composite to synthesize 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural.The synthesis of a commercial fragrance, fraistone.The synthesis of pyrrolidone derivatives via reductive amination.The total synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.
White flake crystals, hygroscopic. clear yellowish liquid after melting.It is easily soluble in water and alcohol, ether organic solvents.
This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals - Food Additives. See more about what is Levulinic Acid and Levulinic Acid SDS information.
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