Panthothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin (vitamin B5) and an essential nutrient. Animals require pantothenic acid to synthesize coenzyme-A (CoA), as well as to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Major producer is Xinfa Pharmaceuticals, Shandong Province, 8,000 t), followed by Huachen Biochemicals, also in Shandong, BASF and DSM (about 3,000 t each). Price in China is about 780 Yuan/kg and climbed 3fold over the past years.
China Bio news release, November 11, 2017