Sodium Bromide: Recent Market Intelligence Report

I. Price Trends
1. Recent Price Volatility
- On May 22, 2026, the Binsiyu benchmark price stood at RMB 18,900 per metric ton, representing a 1.82% decline from the early-May level of RMB 19,250 per metric ton, and positioning it within the mid-to-lower range for the year (annual low: RMB 17,290/ton; annual high: RMB 21,666.67/ton).
- Between May 8 and May 21, prices remained stable within the narrow band of RMB 18,900–19,250 per metric ton, indicating tightening volatility and a balanced supply-demand equilibrium.

2. Regional Price Differentials
- Shandong Province: Quotations varied significantly—Shandong Hongyang Chemical (RMB 19,000/ton), Shandong Hanyue Chemical (RMB 18,800–20,000/ton), and Qingdao Chengxin Hongfeng (RMB 15,800/ton)—reflecting disparities in production capacity, product quality, and market positioning.
- Jiangsu Province: Suzhou Senfeida (RMB 25,500/ton, 99% purity) and Suzhou Shangma Chemical (RMB 42,000/ton, premium-grade) commanded substantial premiums over standard industrial-grade products, highlighting strong pricing power for high-purity specifications.
- Other Regions: Anhui Chizhou Xinyu Chemical (RMB 4,200/ton, by-product grade) and Hubei Qibajiu Chemical (RMB 16,500/ton) offered comparatively lower prices, likely attributable to non-standard or low-end market segments.

II. Supply-Demand Landscape
1. Supply Side
- Production Concentration: Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang constitute China’s primary production bases. In 2025, Shandong Jincheng Pharmaceutical, Zhejiang Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical, and Jiangsu Yangnong Chemical collectively held 91.4% of national market share, establishing an oligopolistic industry structure.
- Limited New Capacity: Only Jincheng Pharmaceutical’s Zibo Base Phase II project is scheduled for commissioning in 2026, adding 350 tons/year—indicating constrained short-term supply elasticity and supporting price stability.
- Environmental Regulation Pressure: Implementation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s “Evaluation Index System for Clean Production of Bromine-Based Fine Chemicals” has forced numerous small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with substandard environmental compliance out of the market, further consolidating industry concentration.

2. Demand Side
- Growth in Pharmaceutical-Grade Demand: In 2025, pharmaceutical-grade sodium bromide accounted for 41.6% of total demand. Nuclear medicine–specific grades achieved shipment volumes of 2.8 tons—representing 13.5% of global output—with demand increasingly driven by regulatory mandates (e.g., Guidelines on Impurity Research for Pharmaceuticals).
- Breakthrough in Electronic-Grade Demand: Expanding applications in OLED evaporation target materials have elevated procurement forecasts: BOE and TCL CSOT are projected to purchase 86 tons in 2025, generating an incremental market value of RMB 930 million.
- Veterinary Market Potential: Veterinary sedative raw material demand is forecasted to reach 100,000 tons in 2026 (up 8% YoY), with anhydrous sodium bromide accounting for over 60% of this segment; the East China region alone contributes 40% of total veterinary demand.

III. Key Driving Factors
1. Policy Incentives
- The State has designated high-purity sodium bromide as a strategic “bottleneck” material requiring domestic substitution, allocating a special subsidy fund of RMB 1.28 billion to accelerate localization efforts.
- Enterprises achieving ISO 13485 certification for pharmaceutical-grade products qualify for performance-based rewards of up to RMB 28 million, incentivizing upgrades in quality management systems.

2. Cost Support
- Upstream bromine price fluctuations and rising energy consumption costs associated with high-purity manufacturing processes have pushed average prices upward: pharmaceutical-grade products now average RMB 186,000/ton (+9.4% YoY); nuclear medicine–grade products average RMB 423,000/ton (+32.1% YoY).

3. Technical Barriers
- Only three domestic enterprises currently possess full-capability testing per GB/T 33087–2016 standards *and* hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation—creating a de facto technical monopoly. New entrants face audit cycles of 14–18 months, precluding near-term supply expansion.

IV. Outlook & Forecast
1. Price Trend
- Short Term: Prices stabilized in May; Q2 2026 is expected to see range-bound trading between RMB 18,500–19,500/ton, with sellers retaining relatively strong bargaining power amid ongoing supply-demand balancing.
- Medium-to-Long Term: Industry revenue is projected to reach RMB 34.64 billion in 2026 (+8.25% YoY), with high-purity product demand share rising above 50%. Consequently, the long-term price center may shift upward to RMB 20,000–22,000/ton.

2. Market Opportunities
- Premium Segment: Persistent supply-demand gaps in pharmaceutical- and nuclear medicine–grade products present sustained opportunities for certified leaders such as Jincheng Pharmaceutical and Jiuzhou Pharmaceutical to capture excess margins.
- Export Market: Jincheng Pharmaceutical’s overseas average selling price stands at RMB 284,000/ton (versus RMB 197,000/ton domestically), with export orders accounting for 58.6% of its total volume—underscoring significant upside potential in international market expansion.
- Emerging Applications: Rapid adoption of electronic-grade sodium bromide in OLED manufacturing offers promising collaboration opportunities along the supply chains of key players including BOE and TCL CSOT.

3. Risk Considerations
- Regulatory Shifts: Relaxation of pharmaceutical-grade certification criteria could trigger intensified price competition.
- Technological Substitution: Advancements in novel sedatives or alternative bromine-source materials may erode long-term sodium bromide demand.
- Escalating Environmental Oversight: While SME exits may cause transient supply tightness, stricter enforcement ultimately promotes long-term industry standardization and sustainable development.