China's share of global API imports surges post-pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the vulnerabilities inherent in global supply chains, particularly those predicated on single-country reliance.

China has historically held a significant position in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) market, and various countries, including India, have sought to reduce their reliance on Chinese imports. However, recent data indicates that despite efforts to diversify sources, countries’ dependence on China has actually increased.

Based on UN Comtrade data, China's portion of global API imports has surged in the post-pandemic era. In 2019, it constituted 18% of global API imports, a figure that escalated to 24% by 2022.