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LECITHIN NEWS Q2-2023

Prices for non-GMO soya and sunflower lecithin have recently changed due to factors such as demand, recipe adjustments, and industry challenges. In India, non-GMO soya lecithin faces competition and inflation, while sunflower lecithin has shown resilience despite the conflict in Ukraine. The Lasenor Group is committed to finding solutions in this changing market, though there is still uncertainty around future prices and the potential impact of El Niño.

INTRODUCTION

The eagerly anticipated lecithin price correction, as highlighted in our latest edition, has materialized across Non-GMO soya and sunflower lecithin offerings. This development comes from various factors that have influenced the market dynamics.

The market has observed a decline in demand, partly attributed to inflationary pressures and the ongoing trend of recipe optimizations. These combined elements have contributed to improved availability and, thus, an adjustment in pricing.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that the lecithin market has faced challenges due to a lack of support from both the meal and the oil markets, which have experienced pressures and fluctuations. While the current market scenario presents certain complexities, we eagerly anticipate the potential impact of the developing El Niño event in Asia. The prospect of below-normal monsoon rainfalls may serve as a catalyst for changes in the market landscape, introducing new opportunities and avenues for exploration.

Non-GMO Soya lecithin – Identity Preserved, a comprehensive analysis

India, a key player in the Non-GMO soya lecithin market, is witnessing a combination of bearish and bullish factors shaping the landscape. Let’s delve into a more detailed examination of the prevailing dynamics:

Bearish Factors:

  1. Price competition and pressure: The intense rivalry between sunflower and rapeseed oils has created a competitive environment that exerts downward pressure on soya oil prices. This scenario impacts the overall price of Non -GMO soya lecithin.
  2. Accumulated stocks and sluggish demand: Buyers in the market have amassed substantial stocks over the past months. Consequently, their urgency to make new purchases has diminished, intensifying the pressure on Indian crushers. These crushers are experiencing the erosion of vegetable oil prices, further adding to the market strain.
  3. Inflation and import duties: The Indian government continues to grapple with inflationary challenges. In an attempt to stabilize domestic prices, they have confirmed the absence of import duties on vegetable oils, creating an additional hurdle for the market.

Bullish Factors:

  1. Farmer stockholding and El Niño anticipation: A recent survey by SOPA (Soybean Processors Association of India) reveals that farmers hold relatively high stocks of the 2022 soya bean crop. This strategic move is driven by their anticipation of potentially higher prices resulting from an impending El Niño event. These reserved soybean sales have restricted crushing activities, causing Indian meals to face challenges in terms of competitiveness in the global market.
  2. El Niño probability: The Indian Meteorological Department has pegged the probability of El Niño at 70% for June to August and 80% for July to September. Should this event manifest, there is a significant risk of drought, which would adversely impact the production of Kharif crops, including soybeans. This, in turn, could contribute to a recovery in prices. It is important to note that while the potential price surge resulting from the El Niño event is estimated to be around 10-15%, it is expected to be temporary and primarily confined to the monsoon period. Subsequently, prices are projected to revert to current levels or potentially even lower during Q4 2023.

Sunflower Lecithin: empowering confidence and Reliability in the Market

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the sunflower lecithin market has mirroring the downward trend in soybean lecithin prices. This market resilience can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the availability of a substantial part of Ukrainian production and the compensatory efforts of European and Argentinian lecithin producers to offset volume losses resulting from the European ban on Russia.

Two major factors clearly influence the sunflower lecithin market:

1. Diverse market flows: Sunflower lecithin is witnessing two distinct flows. Firstly, Russian-origin lecithin is finding its way into the domestic market, as well as China and India, offering competitive pricing. Secondly, non-Russian origins are primarily being delivered to Europe, the USA, and South America.

  1. Supply and demand balance: The market has observed demand erosion for sunflower lecithin due to elevated prices and supply uncertainties. This shift in demand has allowed for a more stabilized supply, enabling crushers and lecithin processors to align with the prevailing soybean lecithin market trends while striving to retain and regain market share.

While price dynamics are gradually reverting to the usual gap of approximately EUR 0.50/kg between the two botanical origins, the main challenge for sunflower lecithin players lies in demonstrating that availability is secure and will remain so.

Sunflower lecithin has long been the preferred choice for the food sector for two primary reasons:

  • Firstly, sunflower is inherently non-GMO (unlike rapeseed and soybean), ensuring food safety and meeting consumer demand for GMO-free products.
  • Secondly, sunflower lecithin is non-allergenic, further bolstering its positive marketing positioning and promoting consumer confidence.

The Lasenor Group has been strategically establishing a robust network and building production facilities in close proximity to suppliers and customers. Currently, we supply our customers with locally produced sunflower lecithin from the following facilities:

2023.06 LSRNWS Lecithin news Q2 2923

This well-defined network has proven immensely valuable during recent market challenges, enabling us to provide effective solutions to our customers.

Conclusion

The market for Non-GMO lecithin is returning to normal conditions, with a good supply promoting healthy competition among suppliers.

However, it is uncertain how much prices will adjust by the end of the year, especially with the possibility of an El Niño event that could change the game in the coming months.

At Lasenor, we remain dedicated to monitoring market dynamics, providing timely insights, and offering comprehensive support to empower informed decision-making. We invite you to partner with us and unlock the true potential of your products in this evolving market.

For a better understanding of the lecithin market evolution, have a look over our previous edition of the Lecithin News (Lecithin News Q1 – 2023)

LECITHIN NEWS Q1-2023

The Non-GMO lecithin market is currently facing significant challenges in 2022. Limited availability and high prices caused by the conflict in Ukraine and peanut cross-contamination in India have contributed to an uncertain market. Despite Lasenor Group’s efforts to keep prices fair, the situation remains challenging. However, we anticipate positive developments in Q2 2023, including government support for the local vegetable oil industry in India and the impact of the drought in Argentina on soya meal production. It’s worth noting that the sunflower lecithin market remains small due to strict EU sanctions on Russian lecithin.

MARKET OVERVIEW

The Non-GMO lecithin market experienced an unprecedented challenge in 2022. Two unexpected factors hit our relatively small market of approximately 100 000 t/annum:

  • The conflict in Ukraine, which started in February 
  • Peanut cross-contamination in India.

Consequently, the market has been under extreme pressure from both the availability and price standpoint. 

It is worth highlighting that Lasenor has adopted a fair position in such market conditions, doing our best to minimize the price hike as much as possible, considering that these price levels are not long-term sustainable for the industry.

Since Autumn 2022, the new Indian crop has been carefully monitored with the hope that it will have a positive impact on the market and bring ease to prices. Even if the Soy harvest was as good as expected (11.3 million t in 2022  v/s 10.5 million t in 2021) and despite a slight price decrease end September-beginning October, lecithin prices remained at a high level as a result of tight availability in India.

With Inflation becoming a real drawback to the agribusiness sector, the Indian government was forced to remove import duties on soya meal and soya oil to support the domestic market. These measures discouraged the crushing activity and thus did not result in a price downtrend for soy-derived commodities that the market had been expecting. Instead, due to low lecithin availability, the prices went up again in India, thus reaching almost spring-summer levels in December 2022. This was also driven by a bullish soya complex oriented by solid demand in the USA, a severe drought in Argentina, and an expected increase in Brazil´s biodiesel output starting from February 2023.

Non-GMO Soya lecithin – Identity Preserved

Global and internal market conditions have recently improved, which signals positive developments in the market by Q2 2023:

  • To support the local vegetable oil industry, the Indian government announced on January 11th, 2023, the removal of the tariff rate quota for imports of soya oil with effect on 01.04.203. Material purchased until this date will be allowed to be imported until 30.06.2023. Import duty would come back to 5.5% on purchases done starting 01.04.2023. This may allow local production of soyabean oil to be competitive on the domestic market with the condition that imported soyabean oil would remain at current levels or higher.
  • The severe drought in Argentina has solidly impacted Argentinian soya meal production. Soya meal being scarce in this country, it also has become expensive. Therefore, Indian soya meal is now finding its way to be sold in AMEA at a competitive price v/s Argentinian material, which has a positive impact on Indian crushing and, consequently, on lecithin production.
  • The price gap between soya oil and palm oil has yet to be sustainable. Price ease on palm oil started this summer, and India has been importing large amounts from Indonesia. This had an accentuated effect pushing prices of local oilseeds and vegetable oils down.
  • The carry-over of the Soy harvest 2021 is quite substantial (1,45 million t), with 2022 better than average. This means that the total amount of beans to be crushed is ample.

In such a condition, better availability could be expected in Q2 2023, leading to price ease. However, it remains to be seen which is the quality of the 2021 crop beans stored until now. Quality issues will then be a key factor to be monitored. This will play a major role in the lecithin market orientation in India.

Sunflower Lecithin

The conflict in Ukraine is still ongoing, with no positive end expected in the short term.

The power outage in the Ukrainian electricity system raises the risk of low sunflower seeds crushing this year. Thus, lecithin production will remain limited and concentrated in the Western part of the country.

Moreover, the threat we mentioned in our last issue has happened: the 8th package of sanctions from the EU against Russia was published in October 2022 and includes all lecithin varieties. This means that importing lecithin from Russia into the EU has been strictly prohibited since 6th January 2023, while Russian material was the most robust alternative in volume to Ukrainian sunflower lecithin.

Additionally, the EU has set up a Directive proposal to harmonize criminalization of the violation of the EU sanctions among Member States. The proposed Directive will establish the same level of penalties in all Member States. Thereby it will close existing legal loopholes and increase the deterrent effect of violating EU sanctions in the first place.

The main elements of the proposal include a list of criminal offenses that violate EU sanctions, such as circumventing an EU restrictive measure: this means bypassing or attempting to bypass restrictive measures. This measure now strongly affects the European market, making lecithin produced by the EU and Argentinian the only sources of sunflower lecithin.

Thanks to Lasenor network in these two areas and the strict volume allocation plan set up at the end of 2022, we expect to supply regular customers with the necessary quantities usually purchased to Lasenor.

Conclusion

Our market will still face some uncertainty in the coming months.

Even if, from the availability point of view, the picture seems to look good in India by Q2 2023, it remains to be seen if the soya meal prices will stay at high levels and thus continue positively impacting Indian crushing.

It is worth underlining that recent bearishness in vegetable oil prices has boosted Indian imports, leading to record stocks of oils and fats: 3.9 million t end of December v/s 1.3 million t a year ago. This may limit crushing activity during Q1 2023 until stocks are absorbed.

Potential crushing increase in India is related to the production of soya meal, thus to the feed industry where peanuts contamination is not an issue. Then, the material available for food application will be less abundant, and lecithin processors will still have to monitor this parameter closely.

As sunflower and IP soybean lecithin markets are communicating vessels, the tightness of non-Russian sunflower lecithin will also impact the global Non-GMO lecithin market. Therefore, we do not expect a sharp price decrease by Q2 2023 and would rather speak about a price correction if the conditions described in this edition materialize.

LECITHIN NEWS - Q4 2021

After reaching the lowest prices ever by the end of 2020 for both soya and sunflower lecithin, last year has been marked by continuous increases, first in freight prices, the growth in demand, and several political decisions.  

MARKET RETROSPECTIVE

On one hand, sunflower seed crop during 2020, in the Black Sea region, decreased approximately a 20%, compared to an average year, reaching 14,1 million t in Ukraine and 13,27 million t in Russia. On the other hand, the Soyabean crops in India were up to 10,45 million t. Despite these figures, prices of both IP soy and sunflower lecithin reached their historical lowest levels in December 2020 – January 2021 because of decreased demand due to COVID lockdown and new players entering the marketplace.  

In February 2021, the sunflower lecithin price starts its current trend. Following this pattern, non-GMO IP soy lecithin started its increase in May. 

During 2021 the oceanic freight prices have risen dramatically, playing a key role in market dynamics with acute lack of vessels & containers. In addition to the soaring price of fuel, the shortage of vessel crews for COVID- 19 incidence has resulted in skyrocketing prices and shipment delays. Sea transportation has then put severe pressure on international trade. 

FORECAST 2022

Current Situation for IP soy lecithin iIndia: 

The soybean crop in 2021 raised to 11,9 milliot which stands for a 18increase compared to 2020. Nevertheless, farmers are stocking beans to keep high prices of soy complex. The domestic soy meal prices skyrocketed in 2021 affecting greatly to the Indian poultry sector. Subsequently, soybean processing is exceptionally low with reduced crushing activity and so an acute drop of lecithin. 

Soyabean crop 2021 IN

Table 1: Indian soybean crop production evolution. Source USDA December 9, 2021

Currently, crude lecithin is in high demand. Therefore, securing raw materials is a continuous fight for every available load, which is pushing prices steadily up. 

Our prediction is that this trend will be kept, at least, until new crop in September / October. 

Current Situation for sunflower in the Black Sea: 

Russian sunflower seed crop in 2021 recorded a 15,5 million t that is 23increase versus 2020 that was a particularly bad crop due to weather conditions. 

Russia sunflower lecithin crop production

Table 2: Russian sunflower crop production evolution. Source USDA December 9, 2021

Ukrainian sunflower seeds crop in 2021 also recorded an increase of 18compared to 2020 with a total output of 17,5 million t 

Sunflower seeds crop 2021 UA

Table 3: Ukrainian sunflower crop production evolution. Source USDA December 9, 2021

Despite the good outputseed crushing in the Black Sea region has plummeted since the harvest is done, following export taxes applied by Russian government for vegetable oils to protect domestic prices. Extra tax burden does not allow local crushers to be competitive in sunflower oil export markets. Due to the shortage of rapeseed oil because of bad crops in Canada and EU, the milling activity has diverted to the momentarily more profitable rapeseed that is in big demand.   

Price projection

Prices in Europe for both IP soy and sunflower lecithin are expected to rise at maximum historical highs. In our views, market will remain bullish in H1, and probably H2 2022 until Brazilian (April-May) and Indian (October) crops are available.  

Key factors to affect price in H2 2022 will be the Brazilian crop, oceanic freights and sunflower in the Black Sea. 

If sea freight rates are still in the current elevated level during 2022 and sunflower seed crushing stays at the normal rate, on H2 2022 we foresee the following scenarios:   

Option 1: Good Brazilian crop / high sea freight rates. 

This will have a positive impact on GM lecithin which EXW price will drop, but still quite high CFR price. 

Non-GMO IP lecithin would benefit from the price downtrend, but impact will be reduced as non-GMO crop in Brazil is limited. 

In this scenario H2 2022 prices for both sunflower and non-GMO IP soyabean lecithin may decline. 

Option 2: Poor Brazilian crop / high sea freight rates. 

Prices will remain extremely high for Indian IP non-GMO soybean with maximum historical level for Q2/Q3 CFR shipments to European Ports. 

In this case, supply pressure on sunflower lecithin as an alternative to soy, will increase, even if crushing activity comes back to normal level. Prices for sunflower will then moderately decrease in Europe. 

For a better understanding of the lecithin market evolution, have a look over our previous edition of the Lecithin News ( Lecithin News Q3 – 2021)

Lasenor is actively present in the main sourcing areas for NON GMO lecithin. We will offer regular feedback on its development as a diagnosing tool.

Non GMO Soya – Identity Preserved

Indian Soy Crop 2021 estimated production figures

Captura de pantalla 2021 10 15 a las 13.13.21

Highlights of this issue : · Monsoon season is still in full swing, with late showers. Beans humidity is a factor to be carefully monitored as this may bring quality issues (OTA levels).

Import figures show a fast-growing demand in India, strongly supported by a healthy local Feed industry. 

Increasing sea freight from South America to India combined with restricted lecithin availability in Brazil have led to bullying price levels. 

As a consequence, many Indian companies have been forced to accept paying prices similar to European market to get the material they need. 

Indian Soyabean prices have reached a record price of EUR 1200/Mt this year 2021, (and we now see) farmers seem reluctant to sell at a lower price level despite oil complex slight decrease overseas. 

From the demand point of view, we have been seeing a kind of panic in Europe and South America, due to scarce Brazilian production of Non GMO IP material:

Captura de pantalla 2021 10 15 a las 13.18.24

Many customers found themselves short, with open positions and default from their usual suppliers. 

This puts additional pressure on Indian supply, and we expect prices remaining high until the new crop in South America. 

Last but not least, sea freight from India to Europe/Americas has sky rocketed in the past five months, which makes many sellers reluctant to make long term agreements. 

Facing such an uncertain scenario, Non GMO IP Russian material is now strongly considered as a back-up option.

Captura de pantalla 2021 10 15 a las 13.20.19

Sunflower Lecithin

Captura de pantalla 2021 10 15 a las 13.24.16

– Latest harvest figures in the Black Sea show that crop may turn potential record crop in Ukraine (larger than
previously assumed), but on the other hand Russian crop may turn a lower than expected.

In the worst-case scenario Russian production may turn out below 15 million Tons in 2021.

– Abundant production is expected in several EU countries.

– However, the transition to the new crop is being extremely difficult for various factors:

  • The season started later than expected due to weather conditions 
  • Many deliveries are pending due to the shortage 
  • Many farmers keep stock, being reserved sellers 
  • Russian taxation on exports is reducing processing of sunflower seeds 
  • Demand is healthy in EU 27, with biodiesel production switching from rapeseed to sunflower. 

– As a result, demand of raw materials remains firm and the expected price decline on sunflower lecithin on the high season has not materialized. 

– From a more global point of view, the Non GMO production deficit in South America, combined with sea freight crisis, has a strong impact on sunflower lecithin market segment. 

India will not be able to absorb 100% additional demand coming from usual Brazilian customers. We strongly believe that end users will continue with the switch from IP soy to sunflower in order to guarantee the Non GMO status.

In our views, both Non GMO soya lecithin and sunflower lecithin prices will remain at high price level, well above EUR 2,00/kg EXW, with additional potential increases later in the year if demand remains strong. 

Next crop in South America will have to be carefully followed, as there is a high risk that La Niña weather conditions would result in rainfall deficit and bad crop. 

All these factors are at play in a market where we continue seeing a solid demand for lecithin as a “natural” emulsifier

Lasenor is actively present in the main sourcing areas for NON GMO lecithin. We will offer regular feedback on its development as a diagnosing tool.

Non GMO Soya – Identity Preserved

2021 in Brazil

Soybean Balance (Mn T) January / December

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 15.22.49

 

Soya bean Crop 2021 in Brazil shows very good figures, but only 47,24 MnT of the crop is expected to be processed in local crushing plants.

It is roughly estimated that 98% of the total soybean output is now genetically modified, thus our projected volume of 945 000 T of Non GMO soybeans to be crushed, which yield approximately 5.250 T of soyabean lecithin.

It is also worth underlining that local crushers are reported to experience difficulties to maintain Hard IP certification system, leading to lower production volumes and discontinuation of IP certification projects.

 

Having a look at historical data for Brazilian crops we have the following scenario:

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 15.24.34

Source: CONAB, September 2020.

This graph clearly shows the decline of the Non GMO soybean crop in Brazil over the past 4 years. With regards to lecithin production the historical data is as follows:

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 15.25.54

 

Explanation for this trend:

In order to overcome the increasing risk of cross contamination, farmers and crushers have opted to concentrate in the value added Non GMO soy complex thus targeting exports to Europe with a view to capitalize on a premium price for Non GM Soy derivatives.

However, if there is no financial compensation/premium for Non GM material, same producers will shift its focus to GM soy products.

Unfortunately, the prices in Europe were not attractive enough to support Brazilian farmers efforts for certified Non GMO products. As a result, Non GMO soy cultivation has

Sunflower Lecithin

As anticipated in our Q1 2021 ́s issue, sunflower lecithin is facing an acute shortfall since end of March. There is virtually zero availability for spot business and contracts on Q3 2021 as a result of the high demand.

Price range at present has doubled compared to 6 months ago.

This situation will last at least until new sunflower crop becomes available in October, and market will need time to adjust to the existing supply shock.

 

plummeted to its lowest historical level and prevalence of GM soy varieties in Brazil is almost 100% this season.

Due to the tight supply, Indian Lecithin is in great demand even for South and Northern America users, that in the past imported significant amounts of Brazilian origin. Some important deals with multinational companies, have been recently closed for H2 2021 supply, which indicates a real shortage in Brazil.

On the back of the high demand prices are shooting up in India.

We do not expect better supply conditions before the end of 2021, and we believe that bullish uptrend in price will remain for the period.

In our views, substantial volumes of GMO Free Lecithin will be needed to compensate for the lack of Brazilian Non GMO product, therefore customers will be seeking for replacement with sunflower or Indian Soy.

Ukraine and Russia, the major sunflower producing countries have already started its sowing season.

 

The 2021 planting campaign started a few weeks later than usual due to cold weather and abundant rainfalls in the region. Ukrainian farmers have now almost completed 2021 spring grain campaign.

Ukrainian ministry reports farmers having sowed 6,4 Million hectares sunflower which represents 6% increase in the planting area.

This would lead to a expected record harvest of 16,4 Mt whereas 2020 ́s crop reached 14.3 Mn T.

In Russia and according to official 2021 estimates, the area for sunflower cultivation has decreased by 2.5% in comparison with last year.

Sunflower sowing area is estimated in the region of 8,9 Million hectares and 2021 ́s Russian crop is projected to reach 14.5- 15MnTv/s14MnTlastyear.

Sowing campaign being almost completed, we have now entered into a weather market. Climate conditions will play a major role next harvest.

We will release next Lecithin News issue by the end of September with the most recent insight of the situation and figures for sunflower crop and crush rates in 2021.

Monsoon in India will have started by then that will allow to get a more accurate outlook of the Non GMO lecithin market.

 

Lasenor is actively present in the main sourcing areas for NON GMO lecithin. We will offer regular feedback on its development as a diagnosing tool.

Non GMO Soya – Identity Preserved

Crop 2020 in India

Crops estimations – Lecithin production – Crude lecithin prices

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.34.21

Crop 2019 was hit by high percentage % of damaged seed due to weather adverse conditions, as a result the production of Lecithin dropped significantly.

The flow of seeds from the farmers to the crushers was steady between October and February 2019, therefore prices kept in a relative low range.

On the contrary, crop 2020 has had lower amount % of damaged seeds. Nevertheless the supply from farmers to crushers has been interrupted due to floods, leading to speculative movements and a price hike as a result.

Even more so, the edible oil complex in Chicago and Malaysia hit the highest levels in more than 5 years which prompted crushers to speculate with prices even more.

Due to this market situation, prices for Non GM IP Soya lecithin have gone up from 6% to 9% comparing 2020 versus 2021.

It is also worth to underline Ocratoxin (OTA) presence in foodstuffs originated in India:

Over the past 2-3 years we have been seeing its predominance rising in this country.

This may lead to a double market in a very near future:

  • High price for low OTA level lecithin suitable for sensitive applications such as Infant formulas, breakfast cereals, etc ….
  • Lower price for Lecithins with few restrictions for OTA.

Crop 2020 in Rusia

Russia has now become trusted option for non GMO IP Soya lecithin. 

Local legislation forbids use of GM derived foodstuffs in Russia.

Crops estimations for the past 2 years are as follows:

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.36.02

Sunflower

Crop 2020 in Rusia

 

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.36.53

EU – Sunflower seeds production

 

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.37.14

EU – Sunflower oil production

 

 

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.37.39

The sunflower production at 8,86 Million Tons is significantly below both last year’s crop and 5 years avarage dua to reduced output in Romania and Bulgaria.

In our views the development of the market dynamics has given contradictory signs during September/December 2020:

  • Crushers in Russia/Ukraine were cautious about low availability, and price offered for crude Sunflower Lecithin has been marked up from the early season due to availability concerns.
  • Western European crushers were aware of the scarcity of raw material in Russia/Ukraine, but the pressure to gain market share and have payback on latest investments done over the past 5 years prompted them to follow the price downtrend.

Organic Lecithin

Here we would like to recap our Lecithin News issue of Q1 2020 that expressed our concern about the reliability of product available in the marketplace:

1/ Crop productivity: 2 Metric Tonnes of seeds per Hectare. *Average yield for conventional sunflower; likely to be smaller for organic crops

Oil Extraction Yield considering only mechanical pressing is allowed: 32% in weight from seed.
Lecithin content: 7 Kg per Metric Ton of Crude Sunflower Oil* (*Internal Lasenor data).

As a consequence, prices were at their lowest at the end of last year. But, later on, when time has come to deliver to the customers, sellers were experiencing strong difficulties to find the raw material required to fulfil with their agreements.

Logically, prices went up and are still increasing significantly as a result of this lower availability.

We believe this trend will continue until the new harvest arrives in Europe.

According to our research the Potential World Production of Organic Sunflower Lecithin raises to approx. 800 Tons per annum worldwide.

2/ Data gathered from Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and Chinese Agricultural University of Beijing shows that prevalence of Organic crops are non existing in India nor China.

Nevertheless, Chinese and Indian suppliers are offering unlimited (non limited) volumes of Organic Sunflower Lecithin, which is quite remarkable taking into consideration that no organic crops are planted in neither these two of these countries. More surprising is for India taking into account that it is monthly importing 1.000 Tons of conventional Sunflower Lecithin.

Trends

Non GMO products in the US market

In November 2017 & May 2018 editions we were stating

“The debate for the GM food present in the US shelves is ongoing on media and American public opinion. The vast proliferation of Supermarket chains focused on natural and organic products has increased demand of Non GMO and Allergen Free Lecithin to be used by food manufacturers. Initially, only premium brands required such Lecithin and other natural ingredients as well, but in recent years it has grown to a general domain. More strict controls are in place to guarantee absence of GM ingredients in foodstuffs.”

“Deadline of July’18 for the USDA to pronounce on a federal position in the United States regarding labeling of GMO, as well with the fact that public awareness in the matter is a hot topic, it has triggered demand in the largest market in the world. Large supermarket chains are already showing NON-GMO product lines, and in some cases with NON-GMO global policies. 

 

Also, the uptrend for the cleaner label is boosting the substitution of synthetic emulsifiers for natural (with more natural emulsification) solutions such as functional specialty Lecithin, that can potentially replace synthetic emulsifiers in some bakery & confectionary applications.

Food producers are seeking alternatives to synthetic emulsifiers, and enzymatically modified Lecithin can, in some applications, play the same role with more label-friendly.”

This is now a reality: US companies have settled strong “well-being projects”, Non-GMO being a major challenge for the coming years

Captura de pantalla 2021 07 06 a las 13.38.32

 

More and more companies are getting concerned by environmental matters, looking for close supply. This topic now forms part the key factors of the purchase decision for many of them.

 

  • Lasenor started many years ago with saving measures to reduce our energy consumption, but it has not been until 2018thatwehaveaclearmonitoringofourCO2 footprint for Scope.

 

  • Our main actions are concentrated in:

– Energy efficiency in our production.

– Take advantage of the high solar radiation that we have in our part of the World.

 

  • Lasenor main consumption is by far in Olesa de Montserrat, but the monitoring program and consequent planning will also be ready for all our 5 subsidiaries by end 2020.

Lasenor is making an ambitious internationalization expansion in order to be able to offer equivalent products in the different main economic regions in the World. This project allows us to be very close to the raw material sourcing and to our customers plants.