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Generic APIs, China & India
Taizhou (Zhejiang), China28.66°N 121.42°E
computed criticality22/100
reading
China + India ≈66% of generic APIs (volume); ≈22.6% of EU API imports come from China
2024Fault line
About two-thirds of the world's generic active ingredients are made in China and India, the latter formulating finished products from Chinese materials. By volume, China directly supplies only 8% of the APIs in American drugs, but its real grip on the generic chain approaches 80% once intermediates synthesised from Chinese KSM are counted. This concentration of a low-margin market discourages any return of capacity to the West.
Actors
Zhejiang Pharmaceutical
Aurobindo Pharma (Hyderabad)
Zhejiang Huahai (Linhai)
Depends on 3
6-APA & antibiotics, ChinaPharma & APIs · Critical anchor↗KSM & API, India (Hyderabad)Pharma & APIs · Link↗Pharma vitamins, China (Zhejiang NHU)Pharma & APIs · Link↗Feeds 2
Drug shortages, FDA / EMA / WHOPharma & APIs↗Port of Shanghai, YangshanChokepoints↗Sources