Market Intelligence Report on Potassium Carbonate – Recent Commodity Market Dynamics

I. Price Trends
- Recent Quotations:
- Jinan Jirihe Chemical Co., Ltd. (Jinan, Shandong Province): As of May 26, 2026, the tax-inclusive price for industrial-grade potassium carbonate (98.5% purity) is RMB 7,050 per metric ton, and for industrial-grade potassium carbonate (99% purity) is RMB 7,600 per metric ton; delivery location is Jinan, Shandong Province.
- Pingxiang Lixin Biochemical Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. (Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province): As of May 23, 2026, the quotation for potassium carbonate (≥99.0% purity) is RMB 7,800 per metric ton; delivery locations include Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province, or Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.
- Shandong Hanyue Chemical Co., Ltd. (Jinan, Shandong Province): As of May 22, 2026, the quotation for potassium carbonate (99% purity) is RMB 7,400 per metric ton; delivery location is Jinan, Shandong Province.
- Other Regional Quotations: As of May 21, 2026, heavy-grade potassium carbonate (99% purity) in Hubei Province is quoted at RMB 7,200 per metric ton; standard-grade (GB) potassium carbonate (98.5% purity, 25 kg/bag) in Hunan Province is quoted at RMB 7,300 per metric ton; premium-grade potassium carbonate in Jiangsu Province is quoted at RMB 12,000 per metric ton; and food-grade potassium carbonate (≥99% purity) in Zhejiang Province is quoted at RMB 8,800 per metric ton.

- Price Volatility:
- Recent potassium carbonate prices have exhibited volatility, with significant price variations across regions, brands, and specifications.
- Industrial-grade potassium carbonate prices are generally concentrated between RMB 7,000–7,800 per metric ton, whereas food-grade potassium carbonate prices typically exceed RMB 8,000 per metric ton.

II. Supply-Demand Situation
- Supply Side:
- Global potassium carbonate production is primarily concentrated in Asia, North America, and Europe; China is one of the world’s leading producers of potassium carbonate.
- Numerous domestic potassium carbonate manufacturers operate in China—including Jinan Jirihe Chemical Co., Ltd., Pingxiang Lixin Biochemical Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., and Shandong Hanyue Chemical Co., Ltd.—with production capacity widely distributed across the country.
- With continuous technological advancement and progressive capacity expansion, potassium carbonate supply is expected to maintain steady growth.

- Demand Side:
- Potassium carbonate is widely used across multiple industries, including glass manufacturing, food processing, chemical production, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, with consistently growing demand.
- In recent years, rapidly expanding applications—particularly light-grade potassium carbonate in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and food—have further boosted overall demand.
- Looking ahead, potassium carbonate demand is projected to continue rising, supported by global economic recovery and the emergence of new markets.

III. Market Dynamics
- Competitive Landscape:
- The global potassium carbonate market is highly competitive, with key players including UNID, Armand Products, Vynova Group, Zhejiang Ocean Biological Co., Ltd., and Wentong Potash Salt Group.
- The domestic Chinese market also features a diversified competitive structure, with enterprises competing vigorously across product quality, pricing, and service.

- Policy Impact:
- Stricter environmental regulations and heightened carbon emission reduction requirements are exerting tangible influence on the potassium carbonate industry.
- Enterprises are required to increase environmental investment and upgrade production technologies to comply with regulatory standards—contributing to higher production costs.

IV. Analysis & Outlook
- Price Trend:
- In the short term, potassium carbonate prices are likely to remain volatile, influenced by factors such as supply-demand balance, raw material costs, and policy environments.
- In the long term, with gradual capacity expansion and sustained demand growth, potassium carbonate prices are expected to stabilize or experience modest upward movement.

- Market Opportunities:
- Rapid growth in emerging application areas—including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and food—presents new development opportunities for the potassium carbonate market.
- Companies can enhance R&D investment, improve product quality and value-added attributes, and thereby meet evolving market needs while exploring novel application domains.

V. Forecasts
- Demand Forecast:
- Potassium carbonate demand is expected to continue growing over the coming years, particularly in emerging markets and developing countries.
- Technological progress and expanded application fields will drive shifts in demand composition, with increasing demand for high-purity and high-performance products.

- Supply Forecast:
- Global potassium carbonate production capacity is projected to continue expanding, especially in major producing countries such as China.
- Enterprises must intensify technological innovation and capacity upgrading efforts to enhance production efficiency and product quality—thus meeting market demands and sustaining competitive advantage.

- Price Forecast:
- In the long term, potassium carbonate prices are expected to remain stable or rise moderately, though gains will be limited.
- Enterprises should closely monitor market developments and policy changes, and adjust production plans and sales strategies accordingly to mitigate risks arising from price volatility.