Niacin China Product Research Report

Niacin is also known as Vitamin B3, including nicotinamide and nicotinic acid. Both of them play the same physiological role. In China, the content of nicotinamide accounts for 90% in Vitamin B3. In the 1960s, China began to produce niacin, but the niacin output was not high due to the inadequate supply of raw materials and lag in technology. The production of niacin was mainly concentrated in the overseas market at that time. After 20th century, with the ever-increasing supply of raw materials and the breakthrough of technology, the capacity of niacin has been increasing. In 2011, the output of niacin reached 26,500 tonnes, ranking 3rd of all Vitamin products, only next to Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The raw material of niacin is 3-picoline or 3-cyanopyridine. 3-cyanopyridine can be made by 3-picoline ammonia oxidation. Most niacin producers in China produce niacin with 3-picoline. In the world, more than 75% of niacin is used in feed additives. In pharmaceutical industry, niacin can be used to prevent pellagra and cardiovascular disease. As pharmaceutical intermediates, it can also be used in producing hexanicit, niacin tocopherol acetate, nikethamide, etc. As food additive, it can be used in the production of fortified flour.