Bulk prices of vitamin C have quadrupled since the first quarter of the year. It’s mainly due to cutbacks in production by Chinese suppliers who control as much 70% to 90% of the market.

The Natural Foods Merchandiser reports, “The kilogram of bulk vitamin C has risen from about $4 in January to about $12 as of August.”

According to Todd Sitkowski, a spokesman for DSM Nutritional Products, “Vitamin B and other letter vitamins would probably also experience price hikes, as China is the biggest player in those markets as well.”

Another factor driving prices is the siphoning of corn into the biofuel market. Corn is a primary source of vitamin C production.

8/21/07 19:06 JR