​1. Global Supply-Demand Dynamics: Surge in Flame Retardant Demand and Raw Material Volatility​​
In 2023, the global aluminum hydroxide market is characterized by ​​diverging demand​​ and ​​elevated production costs​​. As a critical raw material for inorganic flame retardants, its supply chain is closely tied to bauxite prices and policies in the new energy and construction sectors.
​​Bauxite Supply Disruptions​​: Political instability in Guinea and Indonesia’s bauxite export ban (effective June 2023) have driven global bauxite prices up by 12%, raising aluminum hydroxide production costs by 8–10% YoY (CRU data).
​​Flame Retardant Boom​​: The EU’s Construction Products Regulation (CPR 2023) mandates higher fire safety standards for building materials, boosting European demand for aluminum hydroxide flame retardants by 18%. Meanwhile, China’s upgraded "New Energy Vehicle Battery Safety Standards" are accelerating demand for flame-retardant coatings in lithium battery packs, with domestic aluminum hydroxide consumption projected to exceed 1.2 million tons in 2023 (China Flame Retardant Materials Association).

​1. Global Supply-Demand Dynamics: Biodiesel Regulations Shape Market Volatility​​
In 2023, the global glycerol market remains heavily influenced by biodiesel policies and palm oil supply chains. As a key byproduct of biodiesel production, glycerol supply is closely tied to crude oil prices and vegetable oil costs (e.g., palm oil, soybean oil).
​​Southeast Asia Capacity Expansion​​: Major palm oil producers like Indonesia and Malaysia are accelerating biodiesel production, driving crude glycerol supply growth by 12% YoY (Statista). However, the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which restricts palm oil-based biodiesel imports, has redirected Southeast Asian crude glycerol exports to deep-processing markets such as India and China.
​​European Market Tightening​​: The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and energy challenges have pushed regional refiners like BASF (Germany) and AkzoNobel (Netherlands) to prioritize food/pharmaceutical-grade glycerol, tightening industrial-grade supply and raising prices by 8-10% YoY.

​1. Global Supply-Demand Landscape: Feedstock Volatility and Green Chemistry Demand​​
The citric acid market in 2023 faces dual pressures from fluctuating raw material costs and surging demand for bio-based alternatives across food, pharma, and industrial sectors.
​​Feedstock Challenges​​: Corn and sugarcane molasses prices, critical for microbial fermentation, remain volatile. Droughts in Brazil (Q2 2023) reduced sugarcane yields, spiking molasses costs by 18% YoY (FAO data), while China’s corn stockpile releases partially offset price hikes in Asia.
​​Circular Economy Push​​: EU regulations mandating biodegradable detergents by 2025 have driven citric acid demand as a phosphate-free chelating agent, with European consumption rising 14% YoY (ICIS).