Baking Soda Prices: What You Need to Know | Pioneer Chemicals

Sodium bicarbonate, commonly referred to as baking soda, is a chemical which has a wide usage in the home and industrially. It is used in baking, cleaning, and even deodorizing, and it will not cost too much to obtain this common household product. However, baking soda price have been slowly increasing for the past few years, which prompts the big question of why?

In this blog post, we will discuss in detail the external drivers that affect the current and future prices of baking soda and what this means for the consumer’s pocket.

What is Baking Soda?

First though, let us briefly revisit what baking soda actually is and why it is such a valuable tool. In chemical terms, baking soda is a compound recognized chemically as sodium ions and bicarbonate ions. Carbonated bread is made when baking soda is mixed with water and an acidic ingredient like juice or vinegar; the bicarbonate reacts releasing carbon dioxide bubbles. This makes baking soda a suitable leavening agent in production of baked foods and other baked items.

The same carbon dioxide that acts as a leavening agent in cakes and quick breads makes baking soda useful in cleaning and deodorizing. Those bubbles can assist the process of removing stains and detoxifying odors when baking soda solutions are applied for cleaning sinks, floors, refrigerators, etc. It can be used for cleaning, as a deodorizer, for making cakes, as a cosmetic, in agriculture and even for repelling insects – and this is not a complete list of baking soda uses, which is a perfect example of a universal pantry essential.

What Factors Influence Costs?

A variety of factors impact the baking soda price involved in producing and distributing:

• Energy – This is one of the significant processes since baking soda production involves the use of a lot of heat to decompose sodium carbonate into sodium bicarbonate. The cost of electricity and other energy sources is sensitive to market forces hence exerting an impact on manufacturing costs.
• Soda ash (sodium carbonate) is the single most important material required to make baking soda. Pricing of the sodium that is dependent on the market forces can be higher or lower.
• Transportation – Additional fuel costs from transportation companies such as trucking and rail, used for transporting raw materials and finished goods, may be adjusted to the consumer.
• Packaging – Plastics and corrugated cardboard in the packaging also hold their pricing model that highly depends on the market.

Since baking soda is a bulk commodity with a chemically active ingredient, the producers of baking soda cannot always pass the increased costs of manufacturing to the consumers due to the low profit margins that this product offers. Changes in price in the pound from nickel or dime differences are a matter of concern because they can affect the total production profitability. It is often vital for manufacturers to adjust their prices upwards; otherwise, they will not be able to sustain themselves.

Factors to Understand

A few major producers supply essentially the entire US baking soda market: Additional competitors of Church & Dwight Co. include Arm & Hammer brand with Natural Soda and Zapp’s and Dr. Bronner’s and FMC Corporation. Some additional products are supplied by exporters in China, Europe and Kenya also. Few players in the category can make the tendency of depending on the price actions of category leader Church & Dwight.

Year in and year out, there is usually an increase in the prices of most cleaning products while baking soda remains a cheap option for cleaning, deodorizing and most of the chemical needs of a household or business at an affordable price. But since baking soda has become as fundamental to baking and cleaning in most kitchens, customers do get aware of even small prices increase on the receipt.

Checking Baking Soda Prices

You can find baking soda in all supermarkets, hypermarkets, stores, and grocery stores as well as in warehouse clubs and dollar stores including Walmart. Prices vary depending on the brand and type of chip.

When comparing baking soda price, one should also take under consideration the weight since the size of a box may be different. Bigger pack sizes (10 lbs+) add a much higher level of value to an even larger consumer base. If you buy in bulk, you will need to make a few trips to replenish your supplies, making it as convenient as possible. Pro tip: Store some baking soda in a portable shaker container where you often use the baking soda such as near sinks, appliances etc.

Future Changes in the Baking Soda Price

Market analysts predict that the baking soda industry in the United States is likely to reach $990 million by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate of 4-5%. Owing to the growing demand for baking soda, the prices of this product are expected to keep on rising in the ensuing years. Persistent pressures in automotive raw material and transportation costs also continue to exist which strengthens the expectation of a low price inflation going forward.

The consumer can buy baking soda like personal care products online at a given time of high prices to balance on the prices by considering rebates or coupons when they are available. Subtotal volume discounts associated with buying in larger quantities can also be assessed as to whether they can cover extra fixed costs necessary to establish and maintain such a system. Promotions and cost-efficient purchasing helps baking soda to still always be affordable.

The Bottom Line

Sodium bicarbonate is an inexpensive chemical with a high efficiency that has been used for centuries to power and clean homes. As indicated previously prices may slowly increase due to production costs but baking soda is likely to remain widely available and cheap in the near future. Monitor the baking aisle on clip strips for sale alerts and browse through coupon inserts so you’d be ready for the next time you decide to buy baking soda. To buy cosmetic ingredients with affordable baking soda price, visit our online chemical store in India – Pioneer Chemicals.