China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2024 - 2029 |
| Historical Data Period | 2019 - 2022 |
| CAGR | 9.10 % |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Analysis
The Chinese Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted the entire pharmaceutical supply chain but, more specifically, disrupted the supply of APIs. The restrictions imposed by the government to avoid the spread of coronavirus among the population restricted more than 40 Chinese manufacturers from supplying APIs to various countries. As per an article published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in October 2020, the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients like cephalosporins, azithromycin, and penicillin was restricted due to the high risk of contamination which has led to the shortage of certain kinds of medicines. The scarcity of many drugs and APIs in several countries due to the pandemic allowed Chinese manufacturers to boost API prices. For instance, as per PHARMEXCIL, the cost of API Penicillin increased to USD 8.69 per unit in July 2020 from USD 6.49 per unit in January 2020. Thus, the high prices and shortages of medicines impacted the market growth in China. However, with released restrictions and resumed import-export activities, the export of various APIs and drugs to different countries, such as the United States, is expected to increase market growth over the forecast period.
Other factors, such as the rising prevalence of chronic, infectious, and genetic diseases, along with the increasing prevalence of cancer, growing sophistication in oncology drug research, and the growing geriatric population, are boosting the market growth.
China is one of the few significant countries which produces and supplies active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to other areas of demand. Several resources state that China is a major source country that supplies a heavy number of APIs to the United States. Thus, to address the rising demands from other parts of the world, China is focusing on improving API production in the country. This is expected to boost the growth of the API market in China.
The increase in the number of people affected by various infectious, genetic, cardiovascular, and other chronic diseases is expected to increase the demand for API production in the country. For instance, according to the 2022 statistics published by WHO, 6.40% of the population (i.e., 1,425,887,337 people) is obese in China in 2022. Also, according to 2022 statistics published by IDF, 140.8 million people were living with diabetes in China in 2021. As per the same source, this number is projected to be 174.4 million by 2050 in China. The high diabetic and obese population in the country raises the company's focus on developing advanced and safe drugs, which require a large amount of API, hence propelling the market growth.
Additionally, the rising geriatric population, more prone to develop chronic diseases, such as neurological and cardiovascular diseases, is also expected to increase the market growth. A study published in February 2021 observed that the prevalence rate of Parkinson's disease in the Han population in China was 3.9% in people aged 50 years and above. It is estimated that the number of Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease will increase to 4.94 million by 2030. As per the same source, tremors (54.5%), pain (22.9%), and rigidity (22.1%) were the most frequently reported symptoms in Parkinson's patients. Thus, the expected increase in Parkinson's disease in China is expected to increase the demand for new-generation anti-Parkinson's disease medication. This is anticipated to fuel the demand for APIs, thereby bolstering market growth.
Furthermore, the rising company activities in adopting various business strategies, such as agreements and collaborations, as well as rising product approvals in the country, are contributing to market growth. For instance, in July 2022, Athenex Inc. agreed to sell all its equity interests in its China subsidiaries to TiHe Capital (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Athenex Inc. is primarily engaged in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing operations.
Moreover, the increasing expansion and construction of API manufacturing facilities in the country are also contributing to market growth. In June 2022, WuXi STA opened another high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) plant at its Changzhou site in Jiangsu, China, to the growing demand for high-potency API process R&D and manufacturing services. Also, in April 2022, Asychem Inc. completed the construction of two new API production sites, a new 500 cubic meter batch capacity building in its production site in Dunhua, China, and an expansion at the company's Tianjin site, with a batch capacity of 160 cubic meters.
Therefore, owing to the aforementioned factors, the studied market is expected to grow over the forecast period. However, the country's stringent regulations for drug approvals and drug price policies are expected to hinder market growth over the forecast period.
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market according to our research experts:
Oncology Segment Expects to Register a High CAGR
The oncology segment is expected to witness significant growth in the API market over the forecast period owing to the factors such as the rising prevalence of various types of cancer and increasing company activities in developing cancer drugs.
An article published in NCBI in February 2022 expected about 4.8 million new cancer cases to be reported in China in 2022. As per the same source, this number is projected to increase to 6.85 million new cancer cases by 2040. As per GLOBOCAN 2020 report, about 815,563 new lung cancer, 478,508 stomach cancer, 416,371 new breast cancer, 306,078 colon cancer, 244,550 rectum cancer, and 124,994 pancreas cancer cases were reported in China in 2020. Thus, the expected increase in the number of people suffering from cancer is anticipated to increase the demand for effective and safe cancer drugs. This further fuels the demand for APIs for drug formulation, hence boosting the market growth.
Furthermore, the rising company focus on developing various cancer-treating drugs raises the demand for APIs, propelling the market growth. For instance, in August 2022, Sanofi collaborated with Innovent Biologics to bring innovative medicines to patients in China to treat cancers. The company focused on accelerating the development and commercialization of two critical Sanofi clinical-stage oncology assets, SAR408701 (PIII) and SAR444245 (PII), combined with sintilimab, the leading checkpoint inhibitor in China.
Also, in April 2022, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved BeiGene's tislelizumab for treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), a type of oesophageal cancer. Similarly, in May 2021, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China approved Phyton Biotech's Drug Master File for paclitaxel active pharmaceutical ingredients produced via plant cell fermentation (PCF).
Therefore, owing to the factors mentioned above, the segment is anticipated to witness growth over the forecast period.
Branded Segment Expected to Own the Significant Market Share
The branded segment is expected to grow over the forecast period owing to the factors such as the high burden of chronic diseases such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and others, raising awareness regarding branded drugs among the population, as well as increasing company activities in developing drugs in the country. For instance, an article published in the journal Annals of Translational Medicine in May 2021 stated that the burden of breast cancer is increasing in China, and it is expected to reach 4.5 million by 2030. In addition, endocrine therapy for treating breast cancer has become more common across the country in recent years. This is anticipated to increase the demand for breast cancer drugs, fueling the demand for APIs to develop branded cancer drugs.
Additionally, an article published in the International Journal for Equity in Health in August 2021, it has been observed that 75.8% of the elderly population aged 60 years and above are troubled by one or more chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases, and others, which cause a lot of physical and psychological harm to the patients due to the long course of the disease and the protracted condition and decrease the life years, in China. Also, the increasing diabetic population in the country raises the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney diseases. Thus, the high burden of chronic diseases, especially
among the aging population, is anticipated to increase the demand for effective drugs for treating chronic diseases. This is anticipated to fuel the demand for APIs for drug development and formulation, hence boosting the market growth.
The rising company activities adopting various business strategies, such as agreements, collaborations, and facility expansion in the country, are contributing to the market's growth. For instance, in March 2022, Lonza completed a laboratory expansion at its active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing site in Nansha, China. The expansion focused on increasing the capacity and capabilities of the development labs and kilogram-scale cGMP production facilities for the clinical delivery of highly potent APIs.
Furthermore, in January 2022, the Chinese industry ministry specified that it would toughen law enforcement to curb monopoly practices and unfair competition in the pharmaceutical industry as the government seeks to foster a good business environment.
Therefore, factors such as the high burden of chronic diseases coupled with the geriatric population and increasing facility expansions by companies for boosting API production are anticipated to augment the market growth over the forecast period.
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Industry Overview
The Chinese Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients market is relatively fragmented. The API market has several manufacturers focusing on expanding their footprints by adopting various business strategies, such as collaborations, facility expansion, and drug approvals. Some of the companies in the market are WuXi AppTec (WuXi STA), Asymchem Laboratories, Reyoung Pharmaceutical, Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd, and Shijiazhuang and Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, among others.
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Leaders
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WuXi AppTec (WuXi STA)
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Asymchem Laboratories
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Reyoung Pharmaceutical
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Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd.
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CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd)
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market News
- October 2022: Asymchem Laboratories, a pharmaceutical services firm in China, revealed preliminary plans for a USD 550 million - USD 700 million project to add research and manufacturing assets in the Jiangsu Taixing Economic Development Zone. The project aims to manufacture small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drugs at the site.
- September 2022: WuXi STA launched the first high potency (HP) oral drug product manufacturing facility at its Wuxi city campus to further extend its drug product capacity and capabilities to meet the growing demand for HP drug candidate development and manufacturing services. This new facility provides an integrated R&D and manufacturing network for high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPI) and drug products from preclinical to commercial manufacturing.
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope Of The Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
- 4.1 Market Overview
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4.2 Market Drivers
- 4.2.1 Increasing Prevalence of Infectious, Genetic, Cardiovascular, and Other Chronic Diseases
- 4.2.2 Rising Prevalence of Cancer and Increasing Sophistication in Oncology Drug Research
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4.3 Market Restraints
- 4.3.1 High Competition between API Manufacturers
- 4.3.2 Stringent Regulations and Drug Price Policies in the Country
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4.4 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size by Value - USD million)
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5.1 By Business Mode
- 5.1.1 Captive API
- 5.1.2 Merchant API
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5.2 By Synthesis Type
- 5.2.1 Synthetic
- 5.2.2 Biotech
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5.3 By Drug Type
- 5.3.1 Generic
- 5.3.2 Branded
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5.4 By Application
- 5.4.1 Cardiology
- 5.4.2 Oncology
- 5.4.3 Pulmonology
- 5.4.4 Neurology
- 5.4.5 Orthopedic
- 5.4.6 Ophthalmology
- 5.4.7 Other Applications
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
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6.1 Company Profiles
- 6.1.1 Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical
- 6.1.2 Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd
- 6.1.3 Hengdian Group
- 6.1.4 CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd)
- 6.1.5 Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd
- 6.1.6 WuXi AppTec (WuXi STA)
- 6.1.7 Asymchem Laboratories
- 6.1.8 Reyoung Pharmaceutical
- 6.1.9 Zhe Jiang Hua Hai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
- 6.1.10 Foodchem International Corporation
- 6.1.11 Sinopharm
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
** Subject To AvailablityChina Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Industry Segmentation
An Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is a part of any drug that produces its effects. Some drugs, such as combination therapies, have multiple active ingredients to treat different symptoms or act in different ways. They are produced using highly-technological industrial processes during the R&D and commercial production phases.
The China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market is Segmented by Business Mode (Captive API and Merchant API), Synthesis Type (Synthetic and Biotech), Drug Type (Generic and Branded), and Application (Cardiology, Oncology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Orthopedic, Ophthalmology, and Other Applications). The report offers the value (in USD billion) for the above segments.
| By Business Mode | Captive API |
| Merchant API | |
| By Synthesis Type | Synthetic |
| Biotech | |
| By Drug Type | Generic |
| Branded | |
| By Application | Cardiology |
| Oncology | |
| Pulmonology | |
| Neurology | |
| Orthopedic | |
| Ophthalmology | |
| Other Applications |
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market Research FAQs
What is the current China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market size?
The China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market is projected to register a CAGR of 9.10% during the forecast period (2024-2029)
Who are the key players in China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market?
WuXi AppTec (WuXi STA), Asymchem Laboratories, Reyoung Pharmaceutical, Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd. and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd) are the major companies operating in the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market.
What years does this China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market cover?
The report covers the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What are the major factors driving the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market?
The major factors driving the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market are a) Increasing focus on API quality and regulatory compliance b) Growing advancements in technology and process efficiency
China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Industry Report
The China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market is experiencing significant growth, driven by innovations and a rising geriatric population. The market data reveals that increased incidences of chronic diseases are also contributing factors. This industry analysis highlights a notable shift towards biotech APIs, fueled by new drug launches and strategic expansions. The captive API segment dominates the market share, supported by in-house manufacturing to ensure quality control.
Generic APIs are becoming increasingly important, favored for their cost-effectiveness in managing prevalent conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The market segmentation indicates that oncology is poised for rapid growth due to lifestyle changes and the rising prevalence of cancer. The industry outlook suggests a thriving market with a balance between synthetic and biotech APIs, with regulations pushing for technological advancements and quality production.
Industry research shows that the market forecast anticipates continued growth, with the industry trends leaning towards more biotech innovations. The market review underscores the importance of generic APIs in the overall market value. The market leaders are focusing on expanding their biotech API portfolios to stay competitive. This market overview provides a comprehensive look at the industry's current state and future predictions.
The industry size and industry statistics point to a robust market, with significant contributions from both synthetic and biotech APIs. The market growth is supported by a favorable regulatory environment that encourages technological advancements. The market outlook remains positive, with industry reports suggesting continued expansion and innovation.
For more detailed insights, the report example and report PDF offer an in-depth analysis of the market leaders, market predictions, and market segmentation. The industry information and industry sales data provide a clear picture of the market's performance and future potential. Research companies are actively engaged in studying the market trends and growth rate to provide accurate market forecasts.
Overall, the China Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market is set for substantial growth, driven by a combination of innovation, strategic expansions, and a growing need for cost-effective generic APIs. The market value and market data indicate a healthy and expanding industry, with a positive outlook for the future.
