The price fluctuations of zinc gluconate are closely related to market supply and demand, specifically manifested as follows:
I. Impact of Demand on Price
1. Rising Demand Drives Price Increases
With the enhancement of people's health awareness, the role of zinc in enhancing immunity and promoting wound healing has attracted attention. As a zinc supplement, zinc gluconate has seen continuous growth in market demand, especially among children and the elderly. For example, the Chinese zinc gluconate tablet market is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9.3% from 2025 to 2030. Such robust demand exerts upward pressure on prices, leading to an overall upward trend.
2. Demand Fluctuations Cause Price Volatility
The market demand for zinc gluconate is influenced by industries such as pharmaceuticals and health products. If demand in these industries experiences seasonal or cyclical fluctuations, prices will change accordingly. For instance, during flu seasons, demand for zinc gluconate nasal sprays and related products increases, potentially causing short-term price hikes; while in off-peak seasons, prices may remain relatively stable or decline slightly.
II. Impact of Supply on Price
1. Capacity Expansion Pressures Prices
In recent years, domestic chemical enterprises have gradually expanded the production capacity of zinc gluconate to meet market demand, increasing global supply. For example, between 2019 and 2021, some producers improved output through technological innovation and process optimization. When demand growth was relatively slow, the market experienced oversupply, leading to an overall downward trend in prices.
2. Raw Material Supply Affects Prices
The production cost of zinc gluconate is mainly influenced by the prices of raw materials such as zinc ingots and sulfuric acid, which fluctuate significantly due to various factors including international markets and domestic policies. When zinc raw material prices rise, the production cost of zinc gluconate increases, prompting enterprises to raise product prices to transfer cost pressures. For example, the rise in zinc raw material prices between 2015 and 2018 drove the price of zinc gluconate upward.
3. Policy Factors Indirectly Influence Prices
Policies and regulations such as environmental protection policies affect the supply of zinc gluconate. Strict environmental protection policies may force some manufacturers to exit the market due to non-compliance, thereby reducing market supply and pushing prices up; conversely, if policies facilitate enterprises in expanding production scales, supply may increase, leading to a downward price trend.
The price of zinc gluconate exhibits volatile characteristics due to market supply and demand. In the long term, as the market matures and industrial structure optimizes, prices are expected to gradually stabilize, but short-term fluctuations will still occur due to changes in market supply and demand and other external factors.
