A bulk drug also called active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is the chemical molecule in a pharmaceutical product (medicines we buy from the chemist) that lends the product the claimed therapeutic effect. In other words, it is the substance responsible for the product being a medicine, penicillin to give one example. As is evident from this, there are ingredients other than the API in products sold as medicines.
After years of sluggish growth, Indian bulk drug (API, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) industry is expected to recover in 2018-19, driven by solid demand from the formulation industry and strong growth in direct exports on the back of low intermediate chemical prices supported by low crude oil prices.
The country’s bulk drug market is 3rd largest in the world in terms of volume and 13th largest in terms of value. India’s bulk drug production has seen a stable growth in the last couple of years in the generic sector and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 7.5% in the forecast period 2017-2022.
The global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market size was valued at USD 134.2 billion in the year 2015 and is estimated to reach a value of USD 239.8 billion by 2025, growing with CAGR of 6.0 %. The market growth can be linked to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
Increasing demand for rapid-acting & efficient drugs and introduction of innovative drug manufacturing facilities are other key drivers estimated to fuel growth of this market over the forecast period.