Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder/Granular (anhydrous or hydrate forms)
Industry PositionDietary Supplement and Food/Pharmaceutical Ingredient
Market
Magnesium citrate is a globally traded magnesium salt used primarily as a mineral source in dietary supplements and, in some presentations, as a pharmaceutical preparation. In trade statistics it is commonly captured within the HS 6-digit category for “salts and esters of citric acid” (HS 291815), which also includes other citrate salts and citrate esters, so trade values are an imperfect proxy. UN Comtrade data accessed via WITS shows a concentrated export base for HS 291815 led by China, with additional large export hubs in Germany, Belgium, India, and the United States. Major importing markets for HS 291815 include the United States and multiple EU member states (notably the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and Italy), reflecting demand from food, supplement, and pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chains.
Major Producing Countries- 중국Major HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade), used here as a proxy for citrate-salt manufacturing capacity; HS 291815 covers multiple citrates/esters (not magnesium citrate-only).
- 독일Major HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); proxy indicator for citrate-related industrial production and re-export activity.
- 벨기에Major HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); proxy indicator for EU-based citrate ingredient manufacturing and distribution.
- 인도Major HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); proxy indicator for citrate ingredient manufacturing and export.
- 미국Major HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); proxy indicator for North American citrate ingredient production and re-export.
Major Exporting Countries- 중국Top HS 291815 exporter by value and quantity in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 독일Large HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 벨기에Large HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 미국Large HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 인도Large HS 291815 exporter in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade); category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
Major Importing Countries- 미국Top HS 291815 importer by value in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade): about US$164.9M and ~44.9M kg; category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 네덜란드Major HS 291815 importer in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade): about US$87.0M and ~43.4M kg; often functions as an EU distribution/import hub; category is broader than magnesium citrate alone.
- 폴란드Major HS 291815 importer in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade): about US$80.3M and ~36.8M kg; category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 독일Major HS 291815 importer in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade): about US$57.3M and ~29.9M kg; category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
- 이탈리아Major HS 291815 importer in 2023 (WITS/UN Comtrade): about US$54.9M and ~22.9M kg; category includes magnesium citrate and other citrates/esters.
Specification
Major VarietiesMagnesium citrate (trimagnesium citrate) — anhydrous, Magnesium citrate — nonahydrate, Magnesium citrate — dodecahydrate
Physical Attributes- White or almost white, fine, slightly hygroscopic powder (pharmacopoeial character description for anhydrous magnesium citrate).
- Soluble in water; practically insoluble in ethanol (96%); dissolves in dilute hydrochloric acid (pharmacopoeial solubility description).
Compositional Metrics- USP monograph definition: magnesium citrate contains NLT 14.5% and NMT 16.4% of magnesium (Mg), calculated on the dried basis.
- European Pharmacopoeia index indicates magnesium citrate monographs exist (Ph. Eur. 11.3 index lists Magnesium citrate and hydrates); hydrate form materially affects label magnesium content per unit mass.
Grades- USP-NF (pharmacopoeial monograph for Magnesium Citrate)
- Ph. Eur. / European Pharmacopoeia (monographs listed for Magnesium citrate and hydrate forms)
Packaging- Common supplier formats include powder or granular grades and polyethylene-lined paper bags (example supplier: 20 kg or 25 kg net bags depending on hydrate/form).
ProcessingAvailable in powder and granular forms for manufacturing handling (e.g., flowability/direct compression use cases cited by ingredient suppliers).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Citrate ingredient manufacturing (magnesium salt of citric acid) → drying/milling (form-dependent) → quality testing vs. target standard (e.g., USP/Ph. Eur.) → packaging (often PE-lined bags) → export/import under citrate HS category (commonly HS 291815, non-specific) → downstream blending/tableting/capsule filling by supplement/pharma manufacturers (typical flow; some steps are industry-typical and should be validated per supplier).
Demand Drivers- Use as a magnesium source in dietary supplements and nutrition-focused formulations (supplier legal/market positioning statements).
- Use in regulated pharmaceutical presentations (e.g., oral solution preparations) where pharmacopeial alignment is commonly expected.
Temperature- Moisture management is more critical than temperature: store in airtight packaging/containers to limit moisture uptake and caking risk (pharmacopoeial storage guidance and hygroscopic character description).
Shelf Life- Shelf stability is generally driven by moisture control (hygroscopicity/caking risk); buyers often require sealed packaging integrity and COA-backed conformance over the stated shelf-life (industry-typical practice; validate per supplier COA/spec).
Risks
Supply Concentration HighInternational trade in the citrate-salt category that typically includes magnesium citrate (HS 291815: “salts and esters of citric acid”) is export-concentrated, with China the top exporter by value and quantity in 2023 in UN Comtrade data accessed via WITS. Because HS 291815 is not magnesium citrate-specific, the exact compound exposure varies by buyer specification, but disruptions affecting major citrate supply hubs (energy constraints, logistics shocks, trade measures, quality enforcement) can quickly tighten availability and raise prices for magnesium citrate supply chains.Qualify multiple suppliers across distinct regions (e.g., China + EU + India/US where spec-fit exists), lock in dual-source specifications by hydrate/form, and maintain safety stock for critical SKUs.
Regulatory Compliance MediumSpecifications and compliance expectations differ across end-uses (food supplement vs. pharmaceutical vs. food additive/fortification), and buyers frequently reference pharmacopeial frameworks (USP-NF; European Pharmacopoeia listings). Misalignment on intended grade, documentation, or permitted use claims can lead to import holds, customer rejections, or relabeling/rework costs.Define the intended use and target standard up front (USP/Ph. Eur. where applicable), align documentation (COA, allergen/contaminant statements), and verify local regulatory permissions for the specific magnesium citrate form.
Quality And Contamination MediumMagnesium citrate is typically traded against assay and impurity controls (e.g., pharmacopeial magnesium content definition and related limits), and out-of-spec results for heavy metals or other impurities can trigger lot rejection and downstream recalls in supplement/pharma channels.Require lot-level COAs, perform incoming verification testing for high-risk impurities (including heavy metals) per the applicable standard, and use approved supplier programs with audit/qualification.
Specification Variability MediumMultiple hydrate forms are commercialized (e.g., anhydrous and hydrate forms listed in European Pharmacopoeia indexes), and hydrate state impacts mass-based magnesium content, flowability, and handling; incorrect form selection or labeling can cause formulation errors and non-compliance.Procure by unambiguous chemical identity and hydration state, and set acceptance criteria that match the form (including dried-basis assay conventions where relevant).
FAQ
Which trade code is commonly used as a proxy for magnesium citrate in global trade statistics?A common proxy is HS 291815 (“salts and esters of citric acid”), because magnesium citrate is a citrate salt. This HS code is not magnesium citrate-only, so the figures represent a broader citrate category rather than the single compound.
Which countries are the largest import markets for citrate salts (HS 291815) in recent UN Comtrade data?In WITS/UN Comtrade data for 2023, the United States is the largest importer by value for HS 291815, followed by major EU member-state import hubs including the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and Italy (noting the HS category includes multiple citrates/esters).
What is a key pharmacopeial quality anchor used by buyers for magnesium citrate?The USP-NF monograph preview states that magnesium citrate contains 14.5% to 16.4% magnesium (Mg) calculated on a dried basis, which is commonly used as a buyer-facing assay anchor alongside other identity/impurity expectations depending on the destination market and intended use.