The Expanding Horizon of China's Pharmaceutical Industry: A 2023 Overview

The Expanding Horizon of China's Pharmaceutical Industry: A 2023 Overview

Author: HyperChem

In the ever-evolving landscape of the pharmaceutical industry, 2023 has been a year of significant growth and development, particularly in China. According to incomplete statistics from the Health Industry Database. the total planned capacity for the production of pharmaceutical raw materials, medical intermediates (including those used in pesticides and other chemical industries), vitamins, and amino acids exceeded 2.93 million tons throughout the year.

A Surge in Raw Material Drug Production

The raw material drug category involved more than 900 specifications, with a combined designed capacity of over 240,000 tons, implicating 194 enterprises. These are primarily located in 23 provinces and autonomous regions, including Jiangsu, Hebei, and Zhejiang.

In Jiangsu alone, the planned, expanded, and newly built capacity exceeded 45,000 tons in 2023. Lianyungang Runzhong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for instance, embarked on a six-phase project involving over 90 raw material drug products, with a total capacity exceeding 42,000 tons.

Hebei and Caffeine Production

Hebei's planned, expanded, and newly built capacity surpassed 38,000 tons in 2023. The most significant change in capacity was observed in caffeine production, exceeding 14,000 tons. Another major product, Theophylline, involved a capacity of over 5,800 tons.

Zhejiang's Synthetic Focus

Zhejiang, known for its synthetic and semi-synthetic products, planned, expanded, and built over 30,000 tons of capacity in 2023. This increase was primarily due to Chengda Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.'s L-Carnitine series. Significant capacity changes were also noted in products like Gabapentin, Valsartan, and Levetiracetam.

Medical Intermediate Products

Over 600 medical intermediate products were involved, with a combined designed capacity of over 1.05 million tons across 34 enterprises in 24 provinces and autonomous regions. Shandong, experiencing the most significant capacity change, dealt with numerous pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates, including cyanopyridines and sorbitol.

Vitamin Production Growth

The vitamin category encompassed more than 70 specifications, with a combined designed capacity of over 290,000 tons, including raw material drugs, powder, oil, and granules. Forty-six enterprises across 18 provinces and autonomous regions, mainly in Shandong, Ningxia, and Zhejiang, accounted for over 68% of this capacity.

Amino Acids: A Key Segment

Amino acid products, totaling over 30 specifications, had a combined designed capacity of over 1.35 million tons across 27 enterprises in 13 provinces and autonomous regions. The significant capacity change was primarily in feed-grade lysine and methionine, with the total capacity change for various specifications of feed-grade lysine exceeding 800,000 tons and methionine series over 200,000 tons.

Conclusion

The year 2023 has been pivotal for China's pharmaceutical industry, marking a significant leap in production capacities across various segments. This expansion not only reflects the growing domestic demand but also positions China as a key global player in the pharmaceutical supply chain. As we at HyperChem continue to monitor these developments, we remain committed to providing insights and solutions that align with these dynamic industry trends.

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