Vitamin C is the most popular vitamin supplement. This includes the leading dollar value of vitamins and supplements that American vitamin shops imported last year.
In 2009, U.S. importers paid US$327.9 million for Vitamin C shipments. That amount represents a third of all U.S. imported vitamins, well ahead of the $292.4 million spent on second-place Vitamin E.
Vitamin C health benefits include protecting the body against free radicals that can cause cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin C also strengthens the immune system, and helps heal bruises and prevents swollen gums.
Top Vitamin Shop Suppliers of Imported Vitamin C
In the U.S. import market for Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and its derivatives, China is the dominant player. China accounted for well over 80% of all imported Vitamin C products sold in American vitamin shops during 2009.
The following 12 countries generated over 99% of imported Vitamin C sales in 2009.
- China … US$286 million (87.2% of US total, down 6.6% from 2008)
- United Kingdom … $38.6 million (11.8%, up 28.8%)
- Germany … $1.7 million (0.51%, down 39.2%)
- Colombia … $467,495 (0.14%, down 20.4%)
- Japan … $312,209 (0.1%, down 77.6%)
- South Korea … $260,735 (0.08%, down 3.1%)
- Denmark … $247,921 (0.08%, up 33.1%)
- Malaysia … $149,350 (0.05%, up from nil)
- India … $141,721 (0.04%, up 12.3%)
- France … $31,571 (0.01%, down 99.2%)
- Israel … $26,511 (0.008%, up 71.3%)
- Vietnam … $15,375 (0.005%, up from nil).
Among the larger suppliers, only the U.K was able to grow sales of Vitamin C and related vitamin supplements to the U.S. last year.
Three smaller providers (Denmark, India and Vietnam) also increased their American Vitamin C sales in 2009.
Sales of Vitamin C Imports So Far in 2010
Sales of imported Vitamin C were $141.1 million during the first quarter of 2010, up 10% compared against the same period in 2009.
- China … US$123.5 million (up 12.4% during first 3 months of 2010)
- United Kingdom … $15 million (down 14%)
- Denmark … $999,386 (up 967.4%)
- Germany … $886,162 (up 87.6%)
- Colombia … $341,582 (up 79.1%)
- South Korea … $278,561 (up 299.4%)
- Portugal … $160,200 (up from nil)
- Japan … $52,815 (down 57.8%)
- India … $46,432 (up 46.2%)
- Israel … $37,456 (up 298%)
- Spain … $5,904 (down 22.6%).
Portugal, Denmark, South Korea and Israel all posted impressive gains in Vitamin C sales during the first quarter of 2010.
China was able to increase its Vitamin C sales to the U.S. by double digits. China continues to enhance its dominant market position over second-place U.K.
Tariff Duty on Imported Vitamin C and Vitamin Supplements
From an international trade perspective, Vitamin C is classified as an organic chemical. The harmonized tariff system code for Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and its derivatives starts with the 6 digits 293627.
In general, Vitamin C imports are duty free unless sourced from a trade-restricted country like Iran.
China appears to be winning Vitamin C production battles, the results of which show up on American vitamin shop shelves.
Chinese competitive advantages in exporting Vitamin C and vitamin supplements include lower labor and mass production costs.
Sources: United States International Trade Commission’s Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb and United States International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
Daniel Workman - A senior business and finance writer who also does French translations, notably international trade and insurance materials.
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