In H1 2026, China's domestic market for EDTA chelated trace elements (EDTA-Zn, EDTA-Fe, EDTA-Mn, EDTA-Cu, etc.) maintained a landscape underpinned by cost support and tight supply-demand balance. Prices of upstream core raw materials ethylenediamine (EDA), chloroacetic acid and cyanoacetic acid kept fluctuating at elevated levels, which directly lifted the production cost of disodium EDTA / tetrasodium EDTA base materials and passed cost pressure through to finished chelated salts.
Prices of high-purity agricultural grade EDTA-Zn (Zn ≥14%) and NaFeEDTA (Fe ≥13%) have risen cumulatively by 30%–80% since late 2024, while conventional industrial-grade products saw milder price swings.
China's total EDTA production capacity stands at around 320,000 metric tons per annum (calculated on EDTA acid / disodium EDTA basis), with actual output hitting approximately 268,000 metric tons and an operating rate of 83.7%. Leading manufacturers based in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces capture over 50% of the domestic market share.
Most chelated micronutrient production lines adopt a process of chelation reaction between disodium EDTA and corresponding metal salts (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, etc.) followed by spray drying. The industry forms a tiered division of labor: large manufacturers self-produce base materials, while small and medium-sized plants purchase outsourced base materials for compound blending.
Periodic supply shortages frequently emerge during the spring planting season (February–April) and autumn fertilization preparation period. In particular, food-grade NaFeEDTA features extended delivery cycles due to strict purity requirements for iron feedstock.
Notably, affected by volatile international ocean freight rates and currency exchange rates of certain destination countries, purchasing volumes of China-made EDTA chelated micronutrient fertilizers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East rose roughly 12% year-on-year in 2026, further pushing up premium prices for high-purity grades in the domestic market.
Industry insiders advise downstream water-soluble fertilizer manufacturers to lock in raw material orders moderately during the stable price window of May–June, to hedge against anticipated price hikes in the traditional peak season of Q3.