-
We detected your language preference as English. Would you like to switch to the English version for a better experience?
Switch to English
Stay here
China and India are the leading exporters of salicylic acid, accounting for the majority of global supply, while the United States, Germany, and South Korea represent the largest importers. Salicylic acid prices have remained relatively stable amid steady demand from pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing sectors. Exports from China have slightly declined year-on-year since 2022, while Indian exports have expanded, reflecting a gradual shift in production concentration.
Salicylic Acid Recent Market Intelligence Analysis
I. Price Dynamics
1. Recent Price Fluctuations
- From July 23 to July 28, 2026, salicylic acid prices in the domestic market exhibited minor fluctuations. In Shandong Province, industrial-grade salicylic acid (purity ≥99%) was quoted at RMB 11,000–12,500 per metric ton; in Hubei Province, quotations ranged from RMB 14,500 to 15,500 per metric ton. The inter-regional price differential primarily reflects differences in logistics costs and supply-demand conditions.
- As of July 28, the latest quotations show an average price of RMB 12,500 per metric ton for industrial-grade salicylic acid in Zibo, Shandong, and RMB 14,500 per metric ton for sublimed-grade salicylic acid (purity ≥99.2%) in Wuhan, Hubei—unchanged from the previous day, indicating limited short-term volatility.
2. Historical Price Comparison
- The domestic average ex-factory price for salicylic acid in 2025 stood at RMB 286,000 per metric ton, representing a modest year-on-year increase of 1.8%. The three-month average price in April 2026 was RMB 15,500 per metric ton—a historical high.
- Prices remained stable between RMB 15,400 and 15,500 per metric ton in June 2026; slight downward adjustment occurred in July, yet overall levels remain above those seen in 2025.
II. Supply-Demand Analysis
1. Supply Side
- Capacity & Output: In 2025, China’s salicylic acid industry had a total capacity of approximately 3,790 metric tons, with actual output reaching 3,410 metric tons—yielding a capacity utilization rate of 89.9%, up 2.3 percentage points year-on-year. Global capacity is estimated at 10,400 metric tons, with output at 8,840 metric tons (capacity utilization rate: 85.0%) and demand at 8,700 metric tons. China accounts for 51.0% of global demand.
- Technological Upgrading: The central government has allocated a special subsidy of RMB 128 million to support continuous-flow microreactor process upgrades across 17 enterprises in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong provinces—enhancing production efficiency and product quality, potentially further expanding supply capacity over the long term.
2. Demand Side
- Downstream Applications: Salicylic acid is primarily used in pharmaceuticals (e.g., as a raw material for aspirin), cosmetics (e.g., acne-treatment serums), and industrial flue-gas desulfurization/denitrification. In 2026, demand for cosmetic-grade salicylic acid grew significantly, driven by strong sales of oil-control and acne-treatment products (e.g., Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant achieved annual sales exceeding 1.25 million bottles).
- Regional Demand: Hubei Province exhibits robust demand for high-purity salicylic acid due to its concentration of environmental protection initiatives and chemical industries, resulting in prices approximately 15–20% higher than those in Shandong.
III. Competitive Landscape
1. Key Suppliers
- Domestic suppliers include Shandong Longxin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shandong Zhihengda Import & Export Co., Ltd., and Hubei Qibajiu Chemical Co., Ltd. Among them, Shandong Longxin maintains stable quotations at RMB 13,000 per metric ton, while Hubei Qibajiu’s sublimed-grade product is priced at RMB 14,500 per metric ton—both reinforcing their respective regional leadership positions.
- Foreign suppliers are not currently engaged directly in low-price domestic competition; however, premium-grade products (e.g., purity ≥99.9%) may enter the Chinese market via import channels to meet niche demand.
2. Factors Driving Price Differentials
- Purity & Specifications: Industrial-grade (purity ≥99%) and sublimed-grade (purity ≥99.2%) products command a price spread of approximately RMB 2,000 per metric ton. High-purity variants are used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, commanding higher value-added margins.
- Logistics Costs: Shandong’s proximity to ports and raw material sources results in generally lower prices compared to inland regions such as Hubei.
IV. Future Outlook
1. Price Trend Forecast
- Short-Term: Prices are expected to remain range-bound throughout August 2026, with minimal likelihood of sharp upward or downward movements under current balanced supply-demand conditions.
- Long-Term: With increasing internalization of environmental compliance costs and rising share of premium products, the price baseline may gradually shift upward. However, downstream price sensitivity—particularly in the cosmetics sector—will likely cap annual growth within 5%.
2. Market Opportunities
- Cosmetics Sector: Sustained growth in oil/acne-prone skin care products will continue driving penetration and demand for cosmetic-grade salicylic acid, with projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 10% during 2026–2028.
- Industrial Sector: Technological upgrades in flue-gas desulfurization/denitrification are boosting demand for salicylic acid derivatives (e.g., 5-sulfosalicylic acid); however, conventional industrial-grade salicylic acid may face intensified competitive pressure due to potential overcapacity.
3. Risk Alerts
- Overcapacity Risk: Concentrated commissioning of new production facilities could trigger oversupply, exerting downward pressure on prices.
- Policy Risk: Stricter environmental regulations may raise production costs; however, technological upgrade subsidies can partially offset such risks.
Salicylic acid is a white crystalline solid with a faint, characteristic phenolic odor; it melts at 158–161 °C and is only slightly volatile under ambient conditions. It is an aromatic organic compound classified as a hydroxybenzoic acid and functions primarily as a chemical intermediate. Industrially, it serves as a key precursor in the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), other pharmaceutical actives, and ester derivatives such as methyl salicylate and phenyl salicylate. Its principal application areas include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics (e.g., keratolytic agents), and agrochemicals—particularly in the production of selective herbicides and plant growth regulators.
1.Salicylic acid namely ortho hydroxy benzoic acid (o-hydroxybenzoic acid) is a kind of important organic synthetic raw material. In pesticide production, it is used for synthetic organic phosphorus pesticide Isocarbophos, isofenphos methyl intermediates isopropyl salicylate and Rodenticide warfarin, kill rats ether intermediate 4-hydroxy coumarin; in the pharmaceutical industry, salicylic acid was used as antiseptics, also as intermediates of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and other drugs; it is also an important raw material of dye, spices, such as rubber industry . 2.It is mainly used as raw materials of aspirin feedstock and pesticide aqueous amine and phosphorus products, can also be used in dye industry, refining and chemical reagent, etc.3.Used in the pharmaceutical industry for the antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic drugs, industrial dye used for direct of azo dyes and acid mordant dyes, but also for spices, etc.4.Used as complexing indicator and preservative.5.Verification for aluminum, boron, cerium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, sulfite, nitrate and nitrite. Determination of aluminum, copper, iron, thorium, titanium and uranium. Alkali method and iodometry titration standard. The fluorescent indicator. Complexometric indicator.6.Salicylic acid is an important raw material of medicine, spices, dyes, rubber auxiliaries and other fine chemicals. In the pharmaceutical industry, salicylic acid itself is used as antiseptics, for local cutin hyperplasia and skin fungal infection. As for pharmaceutical intermediates, it is used for production of ethenzamide, diuretin, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), sodium salicylate and salicylamide, glibenclamide niclosamide, salicylic acid, phenyl ester, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, bismuth subsalicylate, sulfasalazine and other drugs. In the dye industry, it is used for the production of direct yellow GR, direct grey BL, direct light brown RT, acid mordant brown G, acid mordant yellow GG dye. Salicylic acid esters are used as spice, for example, methyl salicylate can be used as toothpaste and other oral spices and other spices and food spices. Used in rubber industry production antiscorching agent, ultraviolet absorbent and foaming agent and water. Salicylic acid can also be used as a phenolic resin curing agent, textile printing and dyeing pulp preservatives, synthetic fiber dyeing of the expansion agent (agent) and so on.
This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals. See more about what is Salicylic acid and Salicylic acid SDS information.
Find Salicylic acid supply and Salicylic acid suppliers on Guidechem to meet your sourcing needs from 783 trusted and certifedsuppliers.
Guidechem assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, fitness for purpose or timeliness.
EN
