Fumaric Acid
Fumaric Acid is an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid with the formula HOOC-CH=CH-COOH in the trans configuration. It is the strongest of the food-grade organic acids on a weight basis, delivering more sourness per gram than citric, malic, or tartaric acid.
Despite that acid strength, fumaric acid is only sparingly soluble in cold water (about 6 g/L at 25 °C). This combination of high acidity and low solubility is what defines its commercial niche: applications where a slow, sustained release of acidity is preferred over the instant tartness of more soluble acidulants.
We source bulk Fumaric Acid from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are mostly in Anhui, Jiangsu and Shaanxi. For this ingredient the minimum order is 1,000 kg and a 20-foot container takes 22 MT, and a smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Minimum order
- 1,000 kg
- Qty in 20' FCL
- 22 MT
- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White, odorless granules or crystalline powder |
| Assay (dry basis) | 99.5% to 100.5% |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 0.5% |
| Residue on ignition | ≤ 0.1% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 3 mg/kg |
| Maleic acid | ≤ 0.1% |
| Particle size | Per customer specification |
Common Markets Grades
Fumaric Acid is produced almost exclusively as a fine white crystalline powder.
The standard food-grade product meets FCC specifications and is produced in either regular or fine-mesh particle size, with mesh selection driven by dissolution-rate requirements in the end formulation.
A microencapsulated grade is produced for applications where the acid must be released only after the formulation reaches a target temperature or moisture level, such as leavening systems and dry beverage mixes.
Industrial and feed grades carry looser specifications on residual maleic acid and heavy metals and are priced significantly lower than food-grade material.
Applications
- Pie and pastry fillings where the slow release prevents premature gelling of pectin and starch
- Tortillas, wraps, and flatbreads for mould inhibition and dough conditioning
- Powdered beverage mixes and drink stick packs, paired with sodium bicarbonate for controlled effervescence
- Hard candies and sour confectionery for an intense, lingering sourness
- Wheat-flour acidulant in pancake, biscuit, and self-rising flour blends
- Wine acid adjustment in regions where addition of organic acids is permitted
- Animal feed acidifier for poultry water lines and piglet rations
- Cleaning and metal-finishing applications as a rust remover and descaling agent
- Industrial polymer feedstock for unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, and biodegradable PBS plastic
Brands Using Fumaric Acid
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Fumaric Acid on the ingredient label.
- Old El Paso (General Mills)Old El Paso Flour Tortillas, 10-count (Soft Tacos & Fajitas) ↗Listed: '...Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Propionate (preservatives), Fumaric Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil...'Label verified 2026-05-24
- Old El Paso (General Mills)Old El Paso Flour Tortillas, 8-count (Burritos) ↗Ingredient panel includes 'Fumaric Acid' within 'Contains less than 2%'Label verified 2026-05-24
- Mars/Wrigley (Skittles)Skittles Sour Gummies ↗Listed: 'Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Fumaric Acid; Less Than 2% Of: Lactic Acid...'Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Fumaric Acid
Top Fumaric Acid manufacturers in China.
Anhui Sealong Biotechnology Co., Ltd.4 ingredients in the directory
Changmao Biochemical Engineering Co., Ltd.8 ingredients in the directory
Jiaoda Rising Weinan Chemical Technology Co., Ltd.5 ingredients in the directory- Shanxi Hengqiang Chemical Co., Ltd.5 ingredients in the directory
Yantai Hengyuan Bioengineering Co., Ltd.3 ingredients in the directory
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Fumaric Acid
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Fumaric Acid out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Fumaric Acid together with other ingredients such as Calcium Acetate, Citric Acid and Glucono-Delta-Lactone into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Fumaric Acid is approved as a food additive in every major regulated market.
In the European Union it carries the E number E297 and is permitted in defined food categories with specified maximum levels, typically in the range of 1 to 4 g/kg depending on the product class.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognises fumaric acid as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a direct food additive under 21 CFR 172.350, with category-specific maximum-use levels for confectionery, gelatin, and dry beverage bases.
JECFA has evaluated fumaric acid and listed it as an acceptable food additive without restriction on identity, leaving usage caps to individual jurisdictions.
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) both carry monographs for fumaric acid. Halal and Kosher certifications exist from manufacturers using non-animal-derived processing aids.
Manufacturing Process
Fumaric Acid is produced almost entirely by chemical synthesis, with fermentation routes occupying a minor share of the market.
The dominant process is catalytic isomerisation of maleic acid. Maleic acid itself comes from the hydration of maleic anhydride, which is produced by gas-phase oxidation of n-butane over a vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst. The thiourea-catalysed isomerisation from the cis (maleic) to the trans (fumaric) configuration runs in aqueous solution at 90 to 100 °C and reaches near-quantitative yield.
The crude product is recrystallised from water to remove residual maleic acid, then washed, dried, and milled to specification.
The fermentation route uses Rhizopus arrhizus or R. oryzae on glucose substrate and is favoured for natural-positioning food applications, though its volume is small compared with the petrochemical route.
