Tylosin tartrate, a macrolide antibiotic widely used in livestock and poultry, is also a key intermediate for high-end veterinary APIs such as tilmicosin and tylvalosin. Its price trend is closely watched across the animal health industry and is widely regarded as a “barometer” of the veterinary API chain.
【Price Update】
As of April 2026, the average market price of tylosin tartrate is approximately 265 CNY/kg, down 2.2% month-on-month, marking a new low over the past year.
The market in the first half of the year has remained in a general downtrend, while a mild rebound may emerge in the second half if hog prices recover.
【Supply and Demand Overview】
Demand Side: Weak Livestock Market Pressure
The upstream livestock sector remains under pressure:
- Hog prices stayed relatively low in the first half of the year
- Farmers remained cautious in purchasing
- Demand was mainly driven by essential consumption
However, market expectations suggest that hog prices may recover in the second half of the year, potentially supporting marginal demand improvement for veterinary drugs.
Supply Side: Expansion vs. Price Control
The supply landscape shows mixed signals:
- Leading producers still maintain some price stabilization efforts
- Several manufacturers continue capacity expansion
- For example, Huisheng Biotech plans to increase tylosin tartrate capacity from 2,000 tons to 3,000 tons
Overall, long-term supply pressure is gradually building.
Cost and Substitution Pressure
- Upstream tartaric acid prices have declined compared with 2025
- Cost support has weakened significantly
- Prices of competing products such as tilmicosin have also declined
- Some demand has been diverted to substitutes
【Historical Price Trend (2021–2023)】
A review of past trends shows a continuous downward shift:
- 2021: Avg. 302 CNY/kg, peak up to 360 CNY/kg, high volatility
- 2022: Avg. 274 CNY/kg, clear downward adjustment
- 2023: Avg. 257 CNY/kg, continued decline
Overall, the price center has moved downward year by year, volatility has narrowed, and the industry has shifted from tight balance to oversupply.
【Product Background】
Tylosin tartrate was first isolated in 1959 from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces fradiae. It is a macrolide antibiotic widely used in veterinary medicine.
Key characteristics:
- Recognized globally as a first-line drug for swine and poultry mycoplasma infections
- More effective than erythromycin, kitasamycin, and tiamulin in many applications
- Around 9 companies in China hold API production approvals
- Over 1,400 veterinary drug approvals involve tylosin-based formulations
【Market Outlook】
Looking ahead to 2026, the market is expected to enter a new phase of supply–demand balancing:
- Significant price surges are unlikely
- Market will likely remain range-bound with fluctuations
- Cyclical factors will dominate pricing trends
Key factors to watch include:
- Recovery pace of the hog farming cycle
- Capacity expansion among leading producers
- Raw material cost movements
【Conclusion】
Overall, the tylosin tartrate market is transitioning from a sustained downtrend into a “weak equilibrium with cyclical fluctuations.” While historical highs are unlikely to return, short-term recovery opportunities may still emerge under improved demand conditions.
