China’s Pharmaceutical Intermediates Market Expected to Reach RMB 290 Billion in 2026, Global Market Continues to Expand

According to the "2025‑2030 China Pharmaceutical Intermediates Industry Market Development Monitoring and Investment Strategy Report" published by the China Business Industry Research Institute, the Chinese pharmaceutical intermediates market reached RMB 255.2 billion in 2024, a year‑on‑year increase of 5.45%, and is estimated to have been approximately RMB 272 billion in 2025. Analysts forecast that the market size will reach RMB 290 billion in 2026.

On the global front, market research institutions project that the global pharmaceutical intermediates market will reach US$35.49 billion in 2025 and grow to US$38.55 billion in 2026, with the potential to reach US$64.04 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.79%. The global pharmaceutical chemicals market encompasses active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates required for drug production and formulation, playing a vital role in healthcare systems worldwide.

In terms of imports, the first four months of 2026 saw continued strong growth in three major categories of intermediates: antibacterial intermediates grew by 38% year‑on‑year, vitamin intermediates by 26%, and organosulfur intermediates by 22%.

Analysts point out that with deepening population ageing and rising prevalence of non‑communicable diseases, global demand for pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs will continue to grow. As the world's largest producer and exporter of APIs, China supplies approximately one‑third of global API demand. In this context, the domestic pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs industry is experiencing dual opportunities of market expansion and industrial upgrading.