When you look at the amino acid market in 2026, the picture is quite clearly divided. Lysine, threonine, tryptophan and valine – all are under pressure from oversupply, their prices are falling or are at historically low levels. Buyer behaviour is cautious, supply is abundant. And then you look at methionine. And you see a completely different picture.
While other amino acids struggle with weak demand, methionine has become a lonely exception in the market. Its price jumped from €2.17 per kilogram in the first quarter to €4.60 per kilogram in the second quarter of 2026. In Europe, prices ranged between €4.90 and €5.50 per kilogram in August. In some regions, such as Russia, prices briefly reached €9.5 per kilogram.
Why Methionine Stands Out from the Rest
The answer lies in the production method. Most amino acids lysine, threonine, tryptophan are produced by fermentation. This is a process that, although complex, has its advantages. Methionine is different. It is produced chemically, from petrochemical raw materials. This means it is directly linked to the prices of oil, gas, methanol and sulphur intermediates.
When the conflict in the Middle East escalated in early 2026, the petrochemical chain was shaken. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a huge portion of the world's oil and petrochemical shipments pass, became a bottleneck. Shortages of raw materials such as sulphur intermediates, methanol and propylene directly hit methionine producers. Evonik, one of the world's largest producers, declared force majeure after its key raw material supplier did the same, which partially limited production at its plant in Singapore.
At the same time, Chinese producers, who dominate the global amino acid market, withdrew from the spot market. They stopped publishing prices and signing new contracts. This further tightened supply, particularly in Europe and the United States, where spot availability of methionine became extremely limited.
Europe in Search of Supply Security
The situation in the European market is particularly challenging. The European Union relies on China for 90 to 95 percent of its supply of essential amino acids. Lysine, threonine and tryptophan come almost entirely from China. Methionine, however, has shown just how vulnerable this dependence can be.
Chinese producers reduced shipments in the first half of the year, and planned annual maintenance, such as the shutdown at the Ningxia Unisplendour plant which lasted around 50 days, further limited supply. European buyers found themselves in a situation where the third quarter was largely covered, but the fourth quarter remained largely unfilled. Producers were invisible with fresh offers, and market activity was left to resellers and traders.
Evonik was one of the few European producers to offer products for the third quarter, with indicative quotations around €4.90 per kilogram. But that was not enough to calm the market.
What This Means for Animal Feed Producers
For animal feed producers, this is not just exchange news. Methionine is an essential amino acid, particularly important in poultry and swine nutrition. Without it, formulations lose efficiency and animal performance declines.
That is why strategic thinking is crucial in this environment. Recommendations for buyers are clear: review your methionine coverage for the third quarter and beyond, protect your most sensitive and consider diversifying suppliers to reduce dependence on a single source. It is also worth preparing alternative formulations and carefully monitoring transport and energy costs, which are often early indicators of price changes.
What the Future Holds
The methionine market in 2026 shows just how vulnerable supply chains are when it comes to energy and geopolitical developments. Although new Chinese capacities expected to come online in early 2027, are expected to ease price pressure in the long term, the market remains tight in the short term.
What is certain is that methionine can no longer be viewed as just another amino acid. Its connection to petrochemicals, sensitivity to geopolitical crises and dependence on a few key producers make it a particular challenge for procurement planners.