Citric acid: Production
Why Chinese plants throttle back when prices dip
What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | about 3 Mt a year or more (indicative) | indicative (basis: industry estimates; no official database) | |
| World output | about 2.5-3 Mt (2025, indicative) | indicative | |
| Capacity utilisation | about 75-85% (indicative) | Chinese plants cut runs when export prices fall below cash cost, as in 2023-2024 (indicative). | indicative |
| Concentration | China top country by far; company shares not published | A handful of Chinese groups (Weifang Ensign, RZBC, COFCO, TTCA) and Jungbunzlauer are usually named as the largest (indicative). | TBRC and Fortune key-company lists; indicative |
| New capacity | not published | Growth comes from Chinese debottlenecking and plants in Southeast Asia (indicative). No named Indian project found. | indicative |
Top producing countries
- China: most of world capacity (often quoted at about 70% or more, indicative); exports over 1 Mt a year (indicative)
- Europe (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany): Jungbunzlauer, Citribel and others
- United States: Cargill, ADM and Primient-type wet millers (indicative)
- Thailand: COFCO Biochemical (Thailand) and Thai cassava-based plants (indicative)
- Israel, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Canada: Gadot, Sucroal, Saudi Bio-Acids, Jungbunzlauer Port Colborne (indicative)
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weifang Ensign Industry often cited as the largest producer; capacity not verified | China | not published | n/a | TBRC key companies via GII (2026) |
| RZBC Group capacity not verified | China | not published | n/a | Fortune key companies (2026) |
| COFCO Biotechnology plants in China and Thailand | China | not published | n/a | Fortune and TBRC key companies |
| TTCA | China | not published | n/a | Fortune key companies |
| Jungbunzlauer plants in Austria, France and Canada (indicative); private | Switzerland | not published | n/a | TBRC and Fortune key companies |
| Cargill and ADM | US | not published | n/a | TBRC and Fortune key companies |
| Gadot Biochemical and Citribel | Israel; Belgium | not published | n/a | TBRC and Fortune key companies |
Largest producers: India
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No large-scale producer identified India relies on imports, mainly from China (indicative) | India | not published | n/a | not found in sources reached |
No sizeable Indian citric acid plant was found. India imports most of its citric acid and citrates, mainly from China (indicative. Indian maize starch makers such as Gujarat Ambuja Exports are building fermentation products (sodium gluconate), so domestic citric capacity is technically within reach.
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Anti-dumping and countervailing orders on Chinese citric acid since 2009, and anti-dumping orders on Belgium, Colombia and Thailand from 2018 (indicative); domestic supply from Cargill, ADM and others. |
| EU | Anti-dumping duties on Chinese citric acid since 2008, renewed under Regulation (EU) 2021/607 and kept in force during an expiry review opened on 14 April 2026; supply from Jungbunzlauer, Citribel and imports. |
| India | Import-dependent; prices follow Chinese FOB offers plus freight and duty. |
| China | Main producer and exporter; maize policy, coal prices and export VAT rebates shape costs. |
| Japan | Imports most of its needs (indicative). |
| Middle East | Saudi Bio-Acids is a regional producer; Gulf beverage demand is met largely by imports (indicative). |