1. Betaine Series (Feed/Food/Cosmetics/Pharma/Agri Grade)

Market Dynamics: Weak and stable. On the raw material side, ethylene oxide holds steady (East China 7,600 RMB/ton) and trimethylamine is soft — cost support exists but upward momentum is insufficient. Feed demand is seasonally light during high-temperature period; cosmetics/food-grade inquiries remain steady. Continuous fish meal price declines marginally weaken the substitution logic, but Peru’s supply tightness has not fundamentally changed.

Price Trend: Weak and stable.

Academic Progress: Nature Communications (published online July 22, 2026) — Zang Yi / Hua Rong / Liu Jia / Li Jia team, “Bariatric surgery resolves MASH by enhancing MAT1A-dependent one-carbon metabolism” (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75822-y). Confirms VSG surgery improves MASH via the MAT1A-one-carbon metabolism axis; betaine supplementation restores surgical efficacy. [Published July 2026, newly cited this issue — see Section IV]

2. Betaine Hydrochloride

Market Dynamics: Moves in sync with anhydrous betaine. Feed-side seasonally quiet; export inquiries steady.

Price Trend: Flat; manufacturers negotiating on volume.

3. L-Carnitine

Market Dynamics: Maintains a firm posture. Food-grade demand supported by sports nutrition, pet food, and pharma-grade applications. Significant divergence between industrial-grade and food-grade pricing (industrial-grade ~110,000 RMB/ton; food-grade ~215,000 RMB/ton — not interchangeable).

Industry Competitive Landscape Accelerating Divergence:

• Anhui Jinxuan 1,100 t/year cyanide-free route project(EIA公示 in June): Entirely eliminates sodium cyanide, with integrated 3,500 t/year CAAE intermediate production. L-carnitine industry shifting from “scale-driven price wars” to four-dimensional competition: process route, environmental compliance, vertical integration, and regulatory certification.
• Chengda Pharmaceutical(7/17 investor briefing): L-carnitine prices relatively stable; Self-GRAS certified; capex project (3,561 t/year capacity upgrade) expected to complete by end-2026. Pharma-grade certified by NMPA/FDA/PMDA and European CEP.
• Global market(Fortune Business Insights): $239M in 2025, projected $425M by 2034, CAGR 6.60%.

Price Trend: Food-grade firm and stable; industrial-grade mainly stable.

4. Choline Chloride

Market Dynamics: “Digesting prior price increases + awaiting new GB standard” phase. Continuous fish meal price declines weaken near-term substitution-driven pricing power, but Peru’s high CNF + aquafeed +17.4% provides rigid demand support.

Policy Progress: GB 7300.206-2025 official implementation date is January 1, 2027 (published 2025-12-31), approximately 16 months away. GB/T 17481-2025 “Determination of Choline Chloride in Additive Premix Feeds” implemented in March 2026. Per industry analysis: 7-ministry veterinary drug comprehensive rectification + Ecological Environment Code effective 8/15 + new chemical substance registration removing feed exemption — new additive varieties must pass dual “Ministry of Agriculture + Ministry of Ecology and Environment” gates, sharply increasing compliance costs.

Price Trend: Stable to slightly firm; digesting prior increases.

5. Creatine Monohydrate

Market Dynamics: Quoted price range maintained; grade stratification continues. Terminal sports nutrition brand competition intensifying — e-commerce 300g high-purity products pricing down to 49–59 RMB. Global market (The Insight Partners, 8/5 update): $751M in 2025, projected $1.259B by 2034, CAGR 6.67%.

GLP-1 Drug-Driven Incremental Demand (Key Focus This Issue):

• JAMA (published June 2026):Cleveland Clinic study finds up to 40% of GLP-1 weight loss is lean body mass. [Published June 2026, newly cited this issue]
• Cell Reports Medicine (2026):GLP-1-induced muscle loss ratio is comparable to standard caloric restriction, but protein + resistance training can significantly reduce sarcopenia risk. [Published 2026, newly cited this issue]
• MDPI JCM review (2026, 15(15), 5870):Recommends protein 1.2–1.6g/kg/day + resistance training 2–3x/week + creatine monohydrate 3–5g/day during GLP-1 treatment. [Published 2026, newly cited this issue]
• Market impact:S. GLP-1 prescriptions exceed 100 million patients; “protein anchoring + resistance training + creatine” becoming the standard nutrition protocol core trio.

Expo: IWF Shenzhen International Fitness Expo 8/14–16 opens today, Futian Convention & Exhibition Center, 200+ brands, functional sports nutrition zone as a window for high-purity creatine export.

Price Trend: Raw material side stable to slightly weak; terminal price war continues.

6. Sodium Sarcosinate

Market Dynamics: As an upstream intermediate for betaine and creatine monohydrate, moves with downstream demand on a steady basis.

Price Trend: Flat.

7. Methylamines (MMA/DMA/TMA/Methylamine Hydrochloride)

Market Dynamics: Overall stable. Raw material methanol running weak (East China ~2,560 RMB/ton); cost support moderate. Downstream choline and pesticide intermediate demand is light.

Price Trend: Weak and stable.

Benchmark Price Reference (Shengyishe, as of 8/7): Dimethylamine (40% aqueous solution) Luxi/Hualu Hengsheng 2,150 RMB/ton; Trimethylamine (99.9%) Luxi 4,500 RMB/ton, Hualu 5,100 RMB/ton.

8. MTBE (Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether)

Market Dynamics: Continuous decline. 8/7 Shengyishe benchmark 6,780.60 RMB/ton; 8/13 further down to 6,670.60 RMB/ton (weekly decline ~1.6%). 8/13 Asian MTBE FOB Singapore $1,029.52–1,031.52/ton (-$4.09/ton); European FOB ARA $1,343.99–1,344.49/ton (+$10/ton). Shandong major producers’ quotes show significant divergence.

Price Trend: High-range oscillation with downward bias; U.S.-Iran negotiations show no progress, limiting further downside.

Benchmark Price Reference: 8/13 Shengyishe 6,670.60 RMB/ton (30-day cumulative gain 7.02%).

9. Ethylene Oxide (EO)

Market Dynamics: East China 7,600 RMB/ton holding steady (flat 8/5–8/13). Satellite Chemical at 7,700 RMB/ton, slightly higher. Zhuochuang 8/13 analysis: shutdown units progressively restarting + new units ramping up, supply gradually loosening; downstream delivering on old orders but new-order sustainability faces tests; short-term prices expected to remain stable.

Price Trend: High and stable; supply incrementally releasing.

Benchmark Price Reference: 8/13 East China 7,600 RMB/ton (20-day cumulative gain 8.57%).

10. Cationic Etherifying Agent

Market Dynamics: Raw material EO at 7,600 RMB/ton + TMA soft; cost-side pressure persists. Downstream papermaking and textile auxiliary demand entering traditional off-season.

Price Trend: High and stable with cost support; weak downstream demand caps upside.

III. Key Data Dashboard

IV. Major Industry Events This Week

1. EU PPWR Packaging Regulation — Full Enforcement from 8/12

Regulatory Background: Regulation (EU) 2025/40 entered into force on February 11, 2025, replacing Directive 94/62/EC. The shift from “directive” to “regulation” means direct applicability across all 27 member states without national transposition. Full mandatory enforcement began August 12, 2026.

Five Key Compliance Requirements (effective 8/12):

Scope: No geographic limitation (Chinese production also covered); all packaging types (retail, e-commerce cushioning, industrial transport, metal cans, cartons, plastic bottles, composite films, etc.); all industries (food, cosmetics, chemicals, etc.); all channels (offline, Amazon, TEMU, etc.).

Enforcement Mechanism: European Commission August FAQ clarifies — initial corrective opportunity granted, but persistent non-compliance escalates to sales bans, recalls + fines. E-commerce platforms have tightened reviews (missing DoC can trigger delisting).

Company Impact: All EU-export product packaging (betaine powder, L-carnitine, choline chloride, creatine, chemical drums/bags) falls within scope. Must immediately screen heavy metals/PFAS, initiate EPR registration, and prepare DoC.

2. China’s First Mandatory Cosmetics National Standard — “General Safety Requirements for Cosmetics” Published

Published 8/6, effective 1/1/2028, replacing the 1987 standard. GB 7916-2026 marks China’s cosmetics standard upgrading from “hygiene standard” to “safety standard.”

Core Changes:

• Microbiological limits benchmarked to ISO:Total plate count classified limits (1,000/100 CFU); thermotolerant coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa must not be detected.
• Children’s cosmetics 10× stricter:Products for children aged 12 and under subject to 100 CFU strict limit (ISO only covers under 3 years), 10× stricter than general cosmetics.
• “Prohibited” ≠ “Non-detectable”:For technically unavoidable impurities of prohibited substances, those with limits follow prescribed limits; those without require safety assessment.

Industry Context: China’s cosmetics market exceeded 1.1 trillion RMB in 2025 (+2.8%), with 6,000+ manufacturers — the world’s largest beauty consumer market.

Company Impact: Downstream customers of cosmetics-grade betaine and other raw materials face stricter safety standards. Need to monitor the传导 effect of new standard on raw material impurity limits. 2028 implementation allows a transition period, but companies have already begun benchmarking.

3. GLP-1 Drug Sarcopenia Risk — Medium-to-Long-Term Incremental Logic for Creatine/Protein Markets

Multiple 2026 studies are driving “protein + resistance training + creatine” toward becoming the standard GLP-1 nutrition protocol:

• JAMA (June 2026):Cleveland Clinic study — up to 40% of GLP-1 weight loss is lean body mass, with significant “sarcopenic obesity” risk.
• Cell Reports Medicine (2026):GLP-1-induced muscle loss ratio is comparable to standard caloric restriction, but protein + resistance training can significantly reduce risk.
• MDPI JCM review (2026, 15(15), 5870):Recommends protein 1.2–1.6g/kg/day + resistance training 2–3x/week + creatine monohydrate 3–5g/day. U.S. Dietary Guidelines 2025–2030 edition (released January 2026) has already raised protein RDA from 0.8g/kg.

Market Impact: U.S. GLP-1 prescriptions cover over 100 million adult patients; protein/creatine fortification demand is fundamentally restructuring the sports nutrition market.

4. Nature Communications Betaine-MASH Study (Newly Cited This Issue)

On July 22, 2026, the Zang Yi / Hua Rong / Liu Jia / Li Jia team published “Bariatric surgery resolves MASH by enhancing MAT1A-dependent one-carbon metabolism” (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75822-y). VSG surgery improves MASH via the MAT1A-one-carbon metabolism axis; betaine supplementation restores surgical efficacy. A 42-patient clinical cohort showed preoperative SAM/choline/phosphocholine levels can predict surgical response. This is the highest-level evidence to date for betaine as a methyl donor in liver disease (IF=18.1). [Published July 2026 — not a new development this week]

5. Fish Meal Continues to Decline; Domestic-Import Spread Widening

After the initial 500 RMB/ton drop on 8/4, prices continued weakening. By 8/14, imported super-prime steam fell to 22,900–23,200 RMB/ton (cumulative decline of 800–1,100 RMB/ton); domestic 63% protein fell to 20,300 RMB/ton (daily -500 RMB/ton). However, Peru CNF remains at $3,700/ton with no sellable inventory.

Key Event: On 8/15, Peru’s Ministry of Production launches a 3-day EUREKA survey (Talara to Morro Sama, 5–50 nautical miles offshore) to assess whether anchovy resources are sufficient to reopen the A-season. The central-northern A-season has ended (only 110,000 tons of fish meal produced); the southern zone accumulated 4,229 tons from 7/1–8/9 (quota 251,000 tons, 1.7% completion rate). China’s domestic seasonal fishing ban ends progressively in late August, with domestic fish meal about to enter concentrated market supply.

Impact: Domestic fish meal continues to weaken, but high foreign prices + uncertain Peru B-season prospects mean the substitution logic persists though with reduced urgency.

6. REACH SVHC List Updated to 253 Substances — Mandatory Enforcement 10/1

On 7/19, ECHA added 12 new SVHC substances, bringing the total to 253, with mandatory enforcement from October 1. New substances target high-frequency raw materials in the coatings supply chain (preservatives, solvent substitutes, polymer stabilizers/flame retardants/pigment dispersants). EU-export products with SVHC mass concentration exceeding 0.1% must complete SCIP notification.

7. Crude Oil Rises Then Falls; U.S.-Iran Negotiations Show No Progress

Brent rebounded on 8/7 and rose for 5 consecutive days to near $89, then fell to $87.07/bbl on 8/13 due to a surge in EIA crude inventories (+17.4M barrels, largest since January 2023) + OPEC cutting its 2026 demand forecast to 580,000 bbl/day. On 8/14, a senior Iranian source confirmed no progress in negotiations; Hormuz transit volume dropped to 5 vessels on 8/12 (3-week low). IEA forecasts global oil consumption to decline by 1.6M bbl/day in 2026.

8. H1 2026 National Industrial Feed Data Released

Total output: 168.5M tons (+3.9%). Pig feed +7.9% (passive growth from “feeding more despite losses”); poultry feed -1.6% (active capacity reduction); aquafeed +17.4% (the only genuinely booming segment); ruminant feed +6.3%.