Mid-March 2025 saw calcium formate prices in Asia holding steady, a reflection of the rather quiet demand from sectors like cement and concrete. While feedstock formic acid prices saw some fluctuations, their impact on calcium formate remained minimal due to ample supply and steady production rates. End user construction sector activity remained weak, delaying any potential recovery.

Due to sluggish demand from the industrial and construction sectors, calcium formate prices in China remained stable in March. The cement and concrete sectors remained troubled, with procurement activity being constrained by poor funding and postponed project restarts. The post-Lunar New Year recovery in construction remained slower than expected, keeping calcium formate consumption below normal seasonal levels.

Production remained stable, with sufficient supply meeting limited demand, preventing any sharp price movements. The price of calcium formate was barely impacted by the slight increase in feedstock formic acid costs over the past month, since the supply was balanced overall. The market remained well-stocked, lowering the likelihood of abrupt price hikes even though some manufacturers changed their inventory levels.

A drop in overseas demand was indicated by China's export growth, which fell from 10.7% in December to 2.3% in January and February. Furthermore, China's export-driven economy is under further pressure due to anticipated tariff increases and U.S. trade policy.

Downstream demand stayed weak, particularly in the construction and concrete sectors, which have yet to see significant momentum in new projects. Infrastructure and commercial real estate investment remained below expectations, with limited funding availability affecting purchasing decisions. This kept buying activity subdued, reinforcing a cautious market sentiment.

The demand for calcium formate in the Middle East and several Asian countries decreased as Ramadan got underway, severely restricting trade volumes. Customers continued to take a wait-and-see stance, putting off big purchases until April, when the post-Ramadan recovery is anticipated.

Calcium formate prices in India remained largely unchanged, supported by moderate demand from the construction sector. Infrastructure projects and increased industrial activity helped sustain steady procurement, though ample supply prevented any major price fluctuations.

Domestic production remained strong, ensuring stable market availability. Despite steady demand, the abundance of supply continued to act as a ceiling on potential price increases.

As per the ChemAnalyst, calcium formate prices may gain some support as construction and manufacturing activity picks up with improving weather conditions. Higher demand from infrastructure projects and increased industrial consumption in India and China could help stabilize the calcium formate market in the coming months.