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n the Financial Year 2024-25, India imported 200 categories of APIs, bulk drugs, and drug intermediates worth approximately USD 4.35 billion, as per HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) based import data. China accounted for about 73.7% of these imports. The details of major source countries with high import dependence are placed at Annexure. Therapeutic segments with high imports dependence include antibiotics, anti-fungal, anti-amoebic, gastrointestinal disorders, antidiabetic, endocrine and hormonal disorders, cardiovascular, oncology, female infertility, contraception, neurology/substance use disorders and essential amino acid deficiency.
Potential risks related to import of APIs arising from geopolitical uncertainties include Single-Source vulnerability, Price volatility and predatory pricing. Such single source vulnerabilities threaten self-reliance and pharmaceutical security as experienced during COVID-19 period.
Annexure
i. The list of major source countries with high import dependence:
| S. No | Import from Globe for Bulk drugs and drug intermediates | Value (in $ Mn) | Share (%) |
| 1 | China | 3,204.67 | 73.71 |
| 2 | European Union | 593.13 | 13.64 |
| 3 | Singapore | 108.27 | 2.49 |
| 4 | United States of America | 85.18 | 1.96 |
| 5 | Japan | 78.97 | 1.82 |
| 6 | Switzerland | 44.67 | 1.03 |
| 7 | Mexico | 34.79 | 0.80 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 33.25 | 0.76 |
| 9 | Hongkong | 22.99 | 0.53 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 22.37 | 0.51 |
| 11 | Others | 119.47 | 2.75 |
| Total | 4,347.75 | 100.00 |
Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS)
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.
