DCA Benchmarks: High protein commentary week 15

The DCA Benchmark price for WPC80 for week 15 is again higher than the previous week. The WPC80 instant benchmark rises to €20,250 per ton. The benchmark for WPI90 remains stable, in line with the pattern seen in recent weeks.Demand for especially WPC80 appears very strong. Producers are struggling to keep pace with demand. In many cases, producers have already sold half or more of their capacity until the end of the year. As a result, there is limited room for additional sales on short notice.As this situation has been developing for some time, new production capacity is being built in different parts of Europe. However, this is not expected to bring much relief in the short term, while demand continues to expand.Meanwhile, traders and producers are also seeking new market opportunities, for example in China, where more affluent consumers show increasing interest in high-protein products.Closer to home, more traditional buyers such as gyms are struggling with the high prices of WPC80 and comparable products. Some are shifting towards cheaper alternatives, such as plant-based or blended products with lower-cost ingredients. This is contributing to rising demand for medium-protein products.WPC70 is becoming more popular, despite its higher fat content. At the same time, WPC90 is less in demand, as it is more expensive and less attractive to produce. It is often produced only on demand, with a premium relative to WPC80. Prices for byproducts of high-protein production remain relatively firm. Liquid whey permeate sells at around €900 to €950 per ton of dry matter. Dry lactose is priced at approximately €1,400 to €1,450 per ton, with a premium of €100 to €150 for higher-quality products.