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Lactic acid, also known as 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, is a naturally occurring organic acid with the molecular formula C3H6O3. It was first discovered by Swedish scientist Scheele in 1780. Lactic acid is the smallest chiral molecule in nature and exists in two stereoisomeric forms: the levorotatory L-lactic acid and the dextrorotatory D-lactic acid. An equimolar mixture of L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid forms racemic DL-lactic acid. Pure lactic acid is a colorless liquid, while industrial-grade lactic acid ranges from colorless to light yellow. It is odorless and hygroscopic, with a relative density of 1.2060 (25/4°C). Both L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid have melting points of 53°C, while DL-lactic acid has a melting point of 16.8°C; its boiling point is 122°C (2 kPa). Lactic acid is miscible with water, ethanol, and glycerol, and its aqueous solution is acidic with a dissociation constant (pKa) of 3.85. Lactic acid exhibits typical properties of organic acids, and its salts are water-soluble. It can form esters with most alcohols and react with organic acids, acid anhydrides, and acyl chlorides to produce esters. Under the action of a catalyst, lactic acid can undergo polycondensation upon heating to form lactide or linear polyester. As a historically significant and important organic acid, lactic acid and its derivatives, such as lactate salts, are widely used in traditional fields like food, medicine, feed, and chemical industries. It serves as a preservative, acidity regulator, pH adjuster, antimicrobial agent, humectant, cleaning agent, growth promoter, and calcium supplement. Additionally, polylactic acid (PLA), derived from the polycondensation of lactic acid, is a novel, eco-friendly, biodegradable biopolymer with broad applications in textiles, plastics, packaging, agricultural films, modern medicine, 3D printing, consumer electronics, automotive, agriculture/horticulture, toys, and textiles. Currently, major global lactic acid production enterprises are concentrated in the United States, China, Thailand, Western Europe, Central and South America, and Japan. Nearly 70% of manufacturers use microbial fermentation for production. The biological fermentation method is the mainstream lactic acid production process, with fermentation control and separation purification being the main technical challenges. Corbion has lactic acid production plants in the United States, Thailand, and Western Europe, accounting for approximately 30-40% of the global market share. China accounts for about 20% of global lactic acid production, while manufacturers in other regions account for around 45%. In 2023, the global apparent consumption of lactic acid (including lactates, esters, and polylactic acid) was approximately 692,400 tons, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.73% projected over the next five years. The United States, as the largest consumer of lactic acid, had a consumption of about 306,600 tons in 2023. Asia, the second-largest lactic acid consumer market, had an annual consumption of 188,200 tons. Traditional applications in food and beverages remain the primary drivers of lactic acid consumption growth, with industrial applications and polylactic acid production also contributing significantly. In other regions, lactic acid consumption is mainly driven by the food and beverage sector, with Western Europe consuming 117,700 tons annually. With the commissioning of new PLA production lines, lactic acid consumption in the United States, China, and other Asian regions is expected to grow rapidly. In other areas, consumption growth will be driven mainly by the food and beverage industry, maintaining a natural growth rate. According to APO Research, in 2023, the global production capacity of lactic acid enterprises was approximately 1.193 million tons. Companies with production capacities exceeding 100,000 tons include Corbion of the Netherlands, NatureWorks of the United States, and China’s Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology and BBCA Group. Corbion is the world's largest producer of L-lactic acid and lactate salts, with an annual production capacity of 360,000 tons of lactic acid and its derivatives, including lactide. NatureWorks has a production capacity of 220,000 tons of L-lactic acid, entirely used for its 150,000-ton PLA plant. China, the world's second-largest lactic acid consumer and the largest exporter, is led by Henan Jindan Lactic Acid Technology, with a production capacity of 128,000 tons. By the end of 2023, the total capacity of the top four enterprises reached 958,000 tons, accounting for 80.30% of the global total capacity, with China’s leading two enterprises accounting for 27.91%. According to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, from 2019 to 2023, China's export volume and export value of lactic acid and its salts and esters exceeded their import volume and import value. In 2023, the import value of lactic acid and its salts and esters continued to increase, growing by 15.75% year-on-year, while the export value decreased by 15.11% year-on-year.
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