Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

Japan paid the most for fructooligosaccharides in Q3 2026: USD 4,300/MT, up 1.4% from USD 4,241/MT in Q2. High labor costs, premium food grade demand and steady demand from food and supplement makers keep Japanese prices above the other three markets. Worldwide, the average rose 1.3% to USD 3,550/MT from USD 3,503/MT, mostly because higher sucrose and energy costs and firm demand from infant formula, supplement and food makers led producers to raise prices in all four markets. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 3,460-3,745/MT range, with sucrose prices, energy costs, demand from infant formula, supplement and food makers and gut health trends doing most of the work.

FOS, or fructooligosaccharides, are short chain carbohydrates made from sucrose or extracted from chicory root. They are a soluble fiber and a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, and they are used in infant formula, supplements, dairy, bakery and beverages. Prices in this report refer to FOS powder or syrup, quoted on a dry basis with 95 percent purity, per metric ton. They depend on sucrose prices, energy costs and demand from food and supplement makers.

Producers make FOS by treating sucrose with an enzyme, then purify and dry the product, or they extract inulin from chicory and break it down. China, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Belgium are large producers. Gut health claims and sugar reduction trends add to demand. Buyers qualify suppliers for food safety standards, and infant formula makers have strict requirements.

FOS Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should rise modestly through the rest of 2026. Sucrose and energy costs are firm and demand from supplement and infant formula makers is steady. Large capacity in China limits the size of the increase. For reference, the Q3 2026 global average of USD 3,550/MT compares with USD 3,404/MT a year earlier, an increase of 4.3%.

For Q4, risks to the price are evenly spread. What could push prices higher? Higher sucrose prices, plant outages or stronger demand for gut health products would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Lower sucrose prices, new capacity or weaker demand from supplement makers would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

FOS Prices Q3 2026:

• China: USD 2,600/MT
• South Korea: USD 3,400/MT
• Germany: USD 3,900/MT
• Japan: USD 4,300/MT

FOS Prices in China

Prices in China firmed 1.5% in Q3 2026 to USD 2,600/MT, compared with USD 2,562/MT in Q2. Chinese prices rose as the demand from food and supplement makers improved. This represents a 4.8% increase on the USD 2,481/MT recorded in Q3 2025. The gap to the four-market average of USD 3,550/MT was 26.8% below for China.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q3 2026 in China?

China rose. Demand from food and supplement makers improved, sucrose costs increased, and producers raised prices. Across the first three quarters of 2026, China has moved up 3.5% from USD 2,511/MT in Q4 2025 to USD 2,600/MT, against a 3.1% gain for the global average. For comparison, the global average moved 1.3% higher over the same quarter.

FOS Prices in South Korea

South Korea recorded a 1.3% gain in Q3 2026, with the average reaching USD 3,400/MT against USD 3,356/MT in Q2. Korean prices rose as the demand from supplement and beverage makers improved. The year-on-year change is a 4.1% increase, from USD 3,265/MT in Q3 2025. Relative to the four-market average of USD 3,550/MT, South Korea traded 4.2% below in Q3 2026.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q3 2026 in South Korea?

South Korea rose. Demand from supplement and beverage makers improved, sucrose costs increased, and producers raised offers. Year to date, South Korea is 3.1% higher than the Q4 2025 level of USD 3,297/MT, while the global average is 3.1% higher. The global average shifted 1.3% higher in the same quarter. South Korea moved 1.3% quarter on quarter.

FOS Prices in Germany

The Q3 2026 average for Germany stood at USD 3,900/MT, an increase of 1.2% on the USD 3,854/MT recorded in Q2. German prices rose as the demand from infant formula and food makers improved. The Q3 2026 average is 3.8% above the USD 3,756/MT recorded in Q3 2025. This places Germany 9.9% above the four-market average of USD 3,550/MT for Q3 2026.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q3 2026 in Germany?

Germany rose. Demand from infant formula and food makers improved, energy costs increased, and producers raised prices. Over the first nine months of 2026 the price in Germany has risen by 2.8%, which compares with a 3.1% gain in the global average. Across the four markets the average was 1.3% higher on the quarter.

FOS Prices in Japan

Japan registered a 1.4% increase in Q3 2026, taking the average to USD 4,300/MT from USD 4,241/MT in Q2. Japanese prices rose as the demand from food and supplement makers improved. Compared with Q3 2025, when Japan averaged USD 4,116/MT, the current price is 4.5% higher. Against the four-market average of USD 3,550/MT, Japan stood 21.1% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q3 2026 in Japan?

Japan rose. Demand from food and supplement makers improved, import costs increased, and producers raised prices. Since the end of 2025, the price in Japan has risen 3.2%, from USD 4,165/MT to USD 4,300/MT, while the global average has risen 3.1%. On the global measure the average was 1.3% higher over the quarter.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

FOS Prices Q2 2026:

• China: USD 2,562/MT
• South Korea: USD 3,356/MT
• Germany: USD 3,854/MT
• Japan: USD 4,241/MT

FOS Prices in China

China registered a 1.1% increase in Q2 2026, taking the average to USD 2,562/MT from USD 2,534/MT in Q1. Chinese prices rose as the demand from food makers strengthened. The Q2 2025 average of USD 2,433/MT puts the current price 5.3% above its level a year earlier. In comparison with the average of USD 3,503/MT across the four markets, the price in China was 26.9% lower.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q2 2026 in China?

China rose. Demand from food makers strengthened, sucrose costs went up, and producers lifted prices. The 0.9% gain in Q1 set the base, and Q2 finished 5.3% above the USD 2,433/MT recorded a year earlier. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 2,600/MT. On the global measure the average was 1.0% higher over the quarter.

FOS Prices in South Korea

South Korea rose 1.0% to USD 3,356/MT in Q2 2026, from USD 3,323/MT in Q1. Korean prices rose as the demand from supplement makers strengthened. Year on year, the average is 4.4% higher, against USD 3,214/MT in Q2 2025. South Korea ended the quarter 4.2% below the group average of USD 3,503/MT.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q2 2026 in South Korea?

South Korea rose. Demand from supplement makers strengthened, energy costs went up, and producers lifted offers. This followed a 0.8% gain in Q1 and left South Korea 4.4% above its Q2 2025 average of USD 3,214/MT. The move then extended in Q3, taking the price to USD 3,400/MT. For comparison, the global average moved 1.0% higher over the same quarter.

FOS Prices in Germany

In Q2 2026, the average price in Germany rose 0.9% to USD 3,854/MT, compared with USD 3,819/MT in Q1. German prices rose as the demand from infant formula makers strengthened. The current level is 4.2% above the Q2 2025 average of USD 3,698/MT. The price in Germany was 10.0% above the group average of USD 3,503/MT in Q2 2026.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Germany rose. Demand from infant formula makers strengthened, labor costs went up, and producers lifted prices. After a 0.7% gain in Q1, the quarter closed 4.2% above the USD 3,698/MT recorded in Q2 2025. The same direction continued in Q3, with the price reaching USD 3,900/MT. The global average shifted 1.0% higher in the same quarter.

FOS Prices in Japan

Japan's average moved up 1.0% in Q2 2026, to USD 4,241/MT from USD 4,199/MT in Q1. Japanese prices rose as the demand from food makers strengthened. A year earlier, in Q2 2025, the average stood at USD 4,036/MT, which makes the current price 5.1% higher. The gap to the four-market average of USD 3,503/MT was 21.1% above for Japan.

Why did the price of FOS change in Q2 2026 in Japan?

Japan rose. Demand from food makers strengthened, labor costs went up, and producers lifted prices. This came on top of a 0.8% gain in Q1, and the average ended 5.1% above its level of a year earlier, when it stood at USD 4,036/MT. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 4,300/MT.

Quarterly FOS Price Trends

FOS prices rose through 2025 and the first half of 2026 and rose again in the third quarter in all four markets. The global average moved from USD 3,294/MT in Q1 2025 to 3,345 in Q2, 3,404 in Q3 and 3,442 in Q4, then 3,469 in Q1 2026, 3,503 in Q2 and 3,550 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 7.8% across the window. Higher sucrose and energy costs and steady demand from infant formula and supplement makers lifted prices for six quarters.

What was FOS Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of gradual increases for fructooligosaccharides, with prices rising in each quarter in all four markets. Starting near USD 3,294/MT in Q1, the global average finished the year at 3,442 in Q4, a gain of about 4.5%. Higher sucrose and energy costs and steady demand from infant formula and supplement makers supported producers throughout the year.

FOS Prices in China in 2025

In China, prices moved from about USD 2,392/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 2,511/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. Chinese prices rose gradually as sucrose costs and demand from food makers increased. Since the 2025 close of USD 2,511/MT, the price in China has moved up 3.5%, reaching USD 2,600/MT in Q3 2026.

FOS Prices in South Korea in 2025

In South Korea, prices moved from about USD 3,170/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,297/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. Korean prices rose gradually as the energy costs and demand from supplement makers increased. At USD 3,400/MT in Q3 2026, South Korea stands 3.1% above its Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.

FOS Prices in Germany in 2025

In Germany, prices moved from about USD 3,647/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 3,793/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. German prices rose gradually as the labor costs and demand from infant formula makers increased. The Q4 2025 close of USD 3,793/MT compares with USD 3,900/MT in Q3 2026, a 2.8% increase. The quarterly sections above show how the annual average developed over the year.

FOS Prices in Japan in 2025

In Japan, prices moved from about USD 3,967/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 4,165/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. Japanese prices rose gradually as the labor costs and demand from food makers increased. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in Japan is 3.2% higher at USD 4,300/MT. The quarterly breakdown above allows each stage of that path to be traced.

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Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time FOS Price Intelligence

We keep a continuous eye on fructooligosaccharides prices wherever it is produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through sucrose prices, enzyme and energy costs, plant outages and demand from infant formula, supplement and food makers. Our forecasts draw on production data, trade flows, input cost trends and demand indicators across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.