UK Disinfectant Price Stands at $4,281 per Ton After Three Consecutive Months of Contraction

United Kingdom's Disinfectant Export Price in July 2022

In July 2022, the disinfectant price stood at $4,281 per ton (FOB, United Kingdom), remaining constant against the previous month. Over the period under review, the export price saw a noticeable setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2022 an increase of 13% m-o-m. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the peak figure of $5,138 per ton in January 2022; however, from February 2022 to July 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination: the country with the highest price was the Philippines ($9,084 per ton), while the average price for exports to Ireland ($1,991 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the Philippines (+16.9%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

United Kingdom Disinfectant Exports

Disinfectant exports from the UK shrank to 4.5K tons in July 2022, which is down by -5.6% against the month before. Over the period under review, exports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in February 2022 with an increase of 42% m-o-m. The exports peaked at 6.7K tons in March 2022; however, from April 2022 to July 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, disinfectant exports declined to $19M (IndexBox estimates) in July 2022. In general, exports recorded a noticeable setback. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 when exports increased by 23% m-o-m. As a result, the exports reached a peak of $30M. From April 2022 to July 2022, the growth of exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

United Kingdom Disinfectant Exports by Country

Ireland (1K tons) was the main destination for disinfectant exports from the UK, accounting for a 23% share of total exports. Moreover, disinfectant exports to Ireland exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Belgium (434 tons), twofold. France (249 tons) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 5.6% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of volume to Ireland totaled +9.0%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average monthly rates of export growth: Belgium (+4.2% per month) and France (+4.7% per month).

In value terms, Ireland ($2M), Belgium ($1.5M), and the Netherlands ($1.4M) were the largest markets for disinfectants exported from the UK worldwide, with a combined 26% share of total exports. the Philippines, Italy, France, Sweden, China, Thailand, Australia, South Korea, Norway, and Taiwan (Chinese) lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 31%.

Norway, with a CAGR of +22.0%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Factors Affecting the Price of Disinfectant

The price of disinfectant in the UK has increased significantly since the outbreak of Covid-19. This is due to a number of factors, including the high demand for such products and the limited supply, the active ingredients, the concentration of those ingredients, and the packaging.

Many retailers have been struggling to keep up with the demand, and this has led to prices rising. Some stores have even been forced to ration products, limiting customers to only purchasing a certain amount.

The government has responded to this by imposing a price cap on some common disinfectants, such as hand sanitizer and surface cleaner. However, this has not stopped prices from continuing to rise, as suppliers attempt to take advantage of the situation. Some experts have warned that this could lead to a black market developing for such products, as people are willing to pay high prices.

It is clear that the price of disinfectant is likely to continue to rise in the UK, as long as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. This could have serious implications for public health, as people may be unable to afford essential cleaning products. The government needs to take action to ensure that everyone can access these products at a reasonable price.

The active ingredients in a disinfectant are what give it its antimicrobial properties and are usually the most expensive component. The most common active ingredient in disinfectants is chlorine, which is effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Other common active ingredients include quaternary ammonium compounds and alcohols. The concentration of these ingredients also has an impact on price, with more concentrated products generally being more expensive.

Packaging is another important factor when it comes to pricing disinfectants. Products that come in larger containers or bulk packs tend to be cheaper than those that come in smaller bottles or single-use packets. This is because manufacturers can save on packaging costs when they sell larger quantities at once. Disinfectant wipes are typically more expensive than liquids because they require more packaging material per wipe.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform