The highest average monthly export price of vitamin C was not more than US$ 10.5/kg in 2008.The recent price history，however, shows that the price in the second half of 2008 stayed close to that level.Based on customs statistics，the average export price was close to US＄10.0/kg from June 2008 and was still at that level in October.As the price of vitamin C was low at the end of 2007，the unit price in long-term purchase orders for 2008 was also quite low．The market price of vitamin C was however US$13-14/kg in December 2008.Such price level has already been maintained for quite some time.
According to the information from www．healthoo.com，the unit price in long-term purchase orders already signed for 2009 is around US$11.0/kg.A lot of clients still take the"wait-and-see"attitude because the price offered today is not at a level they can accept. With such a high price，it is hard to imagine what the market in 2009 will be like.
The export amount of vitamin C from January to October 2008 was equal to or even more than the total amount exported during the whole year of 2007．Production suspension for overhaul started only at the end of 2008.Many producers will therefore spend at least one month on equipment maintenance in 2009.Given the increased output from new entrants，the supply in 2009 will be equal to 2008 at most．With the impact of slower consumption，the overall demand will likely be down around 5%， but 2009 will still be a year full of expectation．(The end)