Sodium thiosulfate

Sodium Thiosulfate: Recent Commodity Market Intelligence Report

I. Price Trends

1. Recent Price Volatility:
- On July 8, 2026, the quoted price for 99% industrial-grade sodium thiosulfate in the East China region (Changzhou, Jiangsu) stood at RMB 95,000 per ton, with a three-month average price of RMB 62,893/ton, a three-month low of RMB 1,150/ton, and a three-month high of RMB 95,000/ton.
- On July 13, 2026, quotations for 99% sodium thiosulfate in the Shandong region ranged from RMB 850 to RMB 1,900 per ton, reflecting significant variation among suppliers. For instance, Liaocheng Jinxinda New Materials Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 850/ton, while Jia’en Chemical (Shandong) Co., Ltd. quoted RMB 1,900/ton.
- On July 11, 2026, the quoted price for 98% sodium thiosulfate in Henan Province was RMB 1,200/ton, whereas quotations for the same purity grade in Shandong ranged between RMB 1,300 and RMB 2,000/ton.

2. Reasons for Price Discrepancies:
- Purity Differences: Prices vary significantly across different purity grades, with higher-purity products commanding premium pricing.
- Supplier Differences: Variations in production costs, quality control standards, brand influence, and other factors contribute to divergent quotations among suppliers.
- Regional Differences: Local supply-demand dynamics and transportation costs also exert notable influence on regional pricing.

II. Market Supply and Demand

1. Supply Situation:
- National effective annual capacity for pentahydrated sodium thiosulfate reaches 486,000 tons; however, actual output stands at only 312,000 tons, implying a capacity utilization rate of 64.2%, revealing a structural contradiction characterized by both overcapacity and insufficient effective supply.
- Production capacity is highly concentrated in Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebei provinces—accounting collectively for 58.7% of national capacity—while supply remains inadequate in South China and Northwest regions, necessitating cross-regional logistics.

2. Demand Situation:
- Sodium thiosulfate finds broad application across textile, papermaking, chemical, and water treatment industries. In textiles, it serves primarily as a bleaching agent and decolorizing agent; in papermaking, as a deinking agent for recycled paper and a paper bleaching agent; in the chemical industry, as a synthetic intermediate and metal ion chelating agent; and in water treatment, as a water treatment agent and disinfectant.
- The pharmaceutical sector exhibits strong growth potential, particularly in applications such as antidotes and anti-allergy medications. The market size for sodium thiosulfate injection has surged dramatically—from RMB 6 million in 2022 to RMB 183 million in 2025—demonstrating robust expansion momentum.

III. Market Dynamics

1. Policy Impacts:
- Heightened national emphasis on environmental protection and resource recycling has bolstered policy support for sodium thiosulfate applications in wastewater treatment, dechlorination, and other environmental fields.
- Stricter environmental regulations have further increased compliance burdens: following implementation of the ‘Emission Standards for Inorganic Chemical Industry’, additional environmental expenditures per ton of product range between RMB 180–250, pushing total industry-wide annual compliance costs beyond RMB 920 million.

2. Raw Material Price Volatility:
- Sulfur—the primary raw material for pentahydrated sodium thiosulfate—exhibits a high import dependency of 68%, making production costs highly sensitive to sulfur price fluctuations. In 2024, sulfur prices rose by 23% within a single month; compounded by regional shortages of liquid sulfur dioxide and rising energy costs, these factors continue to intensify manufacturers’ cost pressures.

3. Market Competition:
- Competition in the sodium thiosulfate market remains intense. Large enterprises dominate through scale advantages and technological capabilities, while smaller firms pursue differentiated strategies to carve out niches in specialized segments.
- Shandong Usuo Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. centers its competitive edge on R&D innovation, enabling customized high-performance sodium thiosulfate solutions tailored to specific customer requirements; Shanxi Dingxiang Da Sudabu leverages large-scale production capacity and superior cost-control capabilities to maintain a prominent market position.

IV. Analysis, Outlook, and Forecast

1. Price Trend:
- Driven by raw material price volatility and rising environmental compliance costs, sodium thiosulfate prices are projected to rise moderately, with average price increases expected to remain within the 3%–4% range.
- Intensifying competition will incentivize enterprises to enhance cost control and operational efficiency, thereby tempering excessive price hikes.

2. Demand Outlook:
- With continuous expansion into downstream application areas—and accelerated demand growth in emerging sectors such as wastewater treatment and saline-alkali land remediation driven by environmental policies—annual demand for sodium thiosulfate is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%–6%.
- Pharmaceutical demand for sodium thiosulfate will sustain upward momentum, especially in antidote and anti-allergy drug formulations.

3. Industry Trends:
- Over the next five years, the industry will accelerate transformation toward greener, more intensive, and higher-value operations. Leading enterprises are expected to strengthen competitiveness via capacity restructuring, regional rebalancing, and circular economy models.
- As intelligent manufacturing upgrades progress, individual plant capacity is projected to increase by 30%–45%, lifting total national capacity beyond 5.2 million tons per year.
- Technological innovation will increasingly focus on environmentally sustainable practices, intelligent production systems, and advanced material development—enhancing both product competitiveness and value-added potential.