India Gains Pharma Orders From China as Western Buyers Diversify Supply Chains: CPHI Firms
Milan: Small and mid-sized Indian pharmaceutical firms at CPHI Worldwide on Tuesday said they are seeing more orders move from China, particularly for drug intermediates, as Western buyers diversify supply chains, though some cautioned that India still depends on Chinese raw materials and cannot yet match its prices.
CPHI is a major global business-to-business platform for the pharmaceutical industry, bringing together drug manufacturers, API suppliers, Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), contract manufacturers, formulation companies and procurement teams.
About 40 small and mid-sized firms are participating in the Indian government pavilion organised by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).
Among those present are Suparna Chemicals, Siddharta International, Rini Life Science, Sarvani Labs, Deccan Nutraceuticals, India Phosphate and Allied Industries, Athulitha Laboratories, Reine Lifescience, Riocare India, Global Pharma, Zeon Pharma Industries India, D H Organics, Clarion Organics, Glukem Biocare, Apionex Pharma, Murli Krishna Exports, Cornileua Pharmaceuticals, J B Khokhani & Co, Gonane Pharma, Chemco Innovative Cheme and JPN Pharma.
Speaking to PTI, Clarion Organics Director Vivek Tiwari said India continues to hold a cost advantage in both intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) because of cheaper indigenous raw materials and lower labour costs.
He expects India and China to retain their positions for the next 20 years.
Tiwari said his company, in business since 1995, now exports to China an intermediate used in a common decongestant, which it earlier imported from that country.
He added that the firm has received orders from the US over the past year that earlier went to China.
Clarion posted a revenue of about Rs 165 crore in 2025-26 and is targeting over Rs 200 crore this year.
AllChem Lifescience Managing Director Bipin Patel said European buyers, facing high costs at home, want to offload contract manufacturing to Asia, although their preference still leans towards China.
He expects India and China to retain their positions for the next 20 years.
Tiwari said his company, in business since 1995, now exports to China an intermediate used in a common decongestant, which it earlier imported from that country.
He added that the firm has received orders from the US over the past year that earlier went to China.
Clarion posted a revenue of about Rs 165 crore in 2025-26 and is targeting over Rs 200 crore this year.
AllChem Lifescience Managing Director Bipin Patel said European buyers, facing high costs at home, want to offload contract manufacturing to Asia, although their preference still leans towards China.
