Import and export of major drug substances in the first half of 2009 in China

This report has been released at 63^rd API China & INTERPHEX China Conference Program (November 2009).

According to statistical data from the customs, export volume of the 65 major drug substances dropped by 0.7% and the export amount dropped by 8%. Export in the 2nd quarter fell by 5% year-on-year, with the average drop amounting to 17.6%; while comparing the 2nd quarter with the 3^rd quarter, the price of chemical drug substances in the international market dropped 9.8% on average.

Export volume of chemical pharmaceutical preparations fell by 18% in the first half of the year, and the average export price shot up 236%, which was mainly due to the recovery of the export volume of heparin and the sharp jump of the export price. China is the biggest producer and exporter of heparin, and the export in 2008 was affected by the occurrence of the US Cambridge Nutraceuticals incident concerning the quality of heparin, but exports of heparin picked up in the first half of this year with a year-on -year growth of 148%, and the average price grew by 84%.

Exports of major categories in the first half of 2009

With reference to the region of export, export volume to South America, Asia and Africa increased, especially to South America, where the increase of our export exceeded 50%£»export volume to North America and Europe slipped, especially to North America where our export volume dropped nearly 50%, due mainly to the decreased export volume to the US, the comparative drop being 52%, but the average price hike in the US market reached up to 94%, due mainly to the high price of heparin and the jump in the price of the bulk product of vitamin C, with heparin having an increase of 70%, and 40% for vitamin C. In the top 20 export target countries, the average increase rate of the price jump in France and Austria was also due to the increased export volume of heparin and the price hike; 2008 was not an active year for trade with India, with export volume dropping by nearly 7%, but gained nearly 20% growth in the first half of this year, with somewhat price call-back though.

In the 41 important import varieties, only 34 of them were actually imported, with the import volume decreasing 53%, and the import amount dropping by 18.6% year-on-year The cause of that was mainly due to the appreciation of the RMB and the significant increase of import in chemical drug substance and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as the price hike of imported products in 2009, thus leading to the significant reduction rate in import volume.

Main export regions in the first half of 2009

Main export target countries in the first half of 2009

The top 10 import in the 1^st half 2009