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Bulk drug imports decline 15.7 per cent in February
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
April 22 , 2025
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The import of bulk drugs and drug intermediates to the country has seen a decline of 15.7 per cent in the month of February, as compared to the same month of last year. The first 11 months of the fiscal 2024-25 reported a growth of 1.6 per cent in imports compared to the same period of last year.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the imports of bulk drugs and drug intermediates during the month of February, 2025 was at $320.93 million as compared to $380.74 million during the same month of the previous year.
This is compared to the 9.86 per cent growth in imports reported in February, 2024 as compared to $346.57 million in the same month of 2023.
Almost 74 per cent of the imports during the month of February, 2025, to the tune of $239.48 million was from China, followed by $7.8 million imports from Singapore, $7.34 million from Italy, $7.31 million from Germany, and $5.58 million from the US.
In Rupee terms, the imports reported decline of over 11 per cent during February, 2025, at Rs. 2,793.9 crore, as compared to Rs. 3,158.9 crore imports during the same month of 2024. The decline is compared to a growth of over 10 per cent reported in February, 2024 as compared to Rs. 2,863 crore during the same month of 2023.
During the first 11 months ended February, 2025, imports of bulk drugs and intermediates were at $4.25 billion, as compared to $4.19 billion during the same period of previous fiscal year. China accounted for almost 74 per cent, at $3.15 billion during the period, according to official data.
In Rupee terms, the imports were 3.52 per cent higher at Rs. 35,934 crore during the 11 months, as compared to Rs. 34,712 crore during the corresponding period of previous fiscal year.
As reported earlier, imports during the nine months period from April to the end of December, 2024 stood at $3.5 billion as against $3.42 billion in the same period of previous fiscal year.
India's imports of bulk drugs and drug intermediates during the fiscal 2023-24 stood at $4.55 billion, with a marginal decline compared to $4.51 billion reported during the fiscal 2022-23.
The Central government has been emphasising on reducing the imports of essential pharmaceutical raw materials such as bulk drugs, drug intermediates and Key Starting Materials, among others, and has initiated various incentive schemes to support domestic production of these materials.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has been promoting production of pharma raw materials in the country, including through a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical key starting materials (KSMs)/drug intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the country, to support the industry in various aspects regarding ease of doing business and availing the benefits of the Scheme.
The scheme, notified by the Centre on July 21, 2020, envisages manufacturing of 41 bulk drugs with a total outlay of Rs. 6,940crore during the tenure of the scheme, which is from 2020-21 to 2029-30. It envisages incentive at the rate of 20% for the first four years, 15% for fifth year and 5% for sixth year on eligible sales of fermentation based bulk drugs. In respect of chemical synthesis based bulk drugs, incentive is to be given at the rate of 10% for six years on the eligible sales.
It has also announced schemes to promote bulk drug parks in the country, as part of its efforts to promote domestic manufacturing of pharma ingredients.
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