APIs Imports from China
By PIB Delhi
The list of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for which imports from China accounted for 70 percent or more of India’s total imports in FY2023-24 and FY2024-25, along with the corresponding import values is placed at Annexure-I.
The domestic demand for high-dependence APIs is dynamic and driven by the requirements of the formulation industry for both domestic consumption and exports. Installed capacity for these APIs is primarily within the private sector. Since 2020, through various policy interventions such as the Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes, the Government has facilitated the creation of an ecosystem for domestic manufacturing. Under the PLI Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs) /Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in India (commonly known as “PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs’), domestic manufacturing capacity of approximately 56,800 MT per annum has been established for 28 out of 41 identified critical products. The list of these 28 products is placed at Annexure-II. As of December 2025, 38 greenfield projects covering 28 notified products have been commissioned under the Scheme.
Out of 41 products notified under PLI Scheme for Bulk Drugs, 33 products have been subscribed. A total of 48 greenfield projects has been approved under the Scheme, covering these 33 notified products, with an aggregate committed investment of ₹4,329.95 crore. Against this commitment, actual investment of ₹4,814.1 crore has already been achieved.
As of December 2025, 38 projects (out of 48 approved projects) covering 28 products (out of 33 subscribed products) have been commissioned, resulting in establishment of domestic manufacturing capacity of approximately 56,800 MT per annum for identified critical products. The scheme has resulted in cumulative sales of ₹2,720 crore reported till December 2025, including exports of ₹527.96 crore, thereby avoiding imports worth ₹2,192.04 crore. The Scheme has also generated employment for 4,896 employment persons till December, 2025
As of December 2025, a total incentive of ₹54.81 crore has been disbursed to the eligible applicants.
Annexure-I
| HS CODE | DESCRIPTION | Import from China FY2023-24 Value (in USD Mn) | China Dependence (in %) FY2023-24 | Import from China FY2024-25 Value (in USD Mn) | China Dependence (in %) FY2024-25 |
| 29419013 | RIFA OR RIFA S SODIUM (RIFAINT) | 8.37 | 100.00 | 15.44 | 100.00 |
| 29214236 | METHYL DOPA (L-ALPHA METHYL-3, 4-DIHYDROXYPHENYLA | 13.75 | 100.00 | 12.16 | 100.00 |
| 29420026 | CYSTEANUNE HCL | 2.49 | 100.00 | 2.85 | 100.00 |
| 29359014 | SULPHADIMIDINE | 1.76 | 100.00 | 1.44 | 100.00 |
| 29359024 | SULPHAMIDE | 1.15 | 100.00 | 0.83 | 100.00 |
| 29419060 | NORFLOXACIN AND ITS SALTS | 3.60 | 99.99 | 12.31 | 99.90 |
| 29124940 | 3,4,5-TRIMETHOXY-BENZALDEHYEDE | 1.09 | 100.00 | 0.40 | 99.88 |
| 29412010 | STREPTOMYCINS | 2.18 | 99.91 | 4.64 | 99.86 |
| 29419040 | GENTAMYCIN AND ITS SALTS | 8.04 | 99.86 | 8.51 | 99.72 |
| 29413020 | TETRACYCLINE/OXYTETRA – CYCLINE AND HR SALTS | 10.75 | 99.84 | 11.40 | 99.65 |
| 29420016 | D (-) PARA HYDROXY DANES SALTS | 21.02 | 99.91 | 27.20 | 99.54 |
| 29242910 | ACETANILIDE | 12.26 | 99.85 | 13.38 | 99.47 |
| 29420011 | CEFADROXIL | 1.08 | 99.21 | 1.69 | 99.05 |
| 29171970 | ETH0XY METHYLENE MAL0NATE, DIETHYL MAL0NATE | 19.77 | 99.93 | 19.34 | 98.13 |
| 29420015 | DANES SALT OF D (-) PHENYL GLYCINE | 18.07 | 98.06 | 19.03 | 100.00 |
| 29335200 | MALONYLUREA (BARBITURIC ACID) AND ITS SALS | 5.36 | 98.00 | 4.58 | 100.00 |
| 29419050 | NEOMYCIN | 3.69 | 99.67 | 2.48 | 97.48 |
| 29224910 | AMINO ACETIC ACID (GLYCINE) | 13.83 | 97.66 | 25.49 | 99.25 |
| 29419030 | CIPROFLOXACINE AND ITS SALTS | 8.16 | 97.98 | 9.33 | 98.02 |
| 29262000 | 1-CYANOGUANIDINE(DICYANDIAMIDE) | 76.58 | 97.95 | 70.45 | 97.94 |
| 29414000 | CHLORAMPHENICOL AND ITS DERIVATIVES SALTS THEREOF | 3.08 | 97.81 | 2.42 | 96.99 |
| 29379019 | OTHER | 4.68 | 97.33 | 5.71 | 95.16 |
| 29372100 | CORTISONE, HYDROCORTISONE, PREDNISONE (DEHY-DROCORTISONE) AND F | 41.12 | 96.48 | 37.67 | 95.41 |
| 29182110 | SALICYLIC ACID | 23.88 | 95.22 | 24.54 | 96.16 |
| 29415000 | ERTHROMYCIN AND ITS DERIVATIVES SALTS THEREOF | 153.75 | 93.04 | 166.31 | 97.65 |
| 29411050 | 6 – APA | 396.51 | 94.08 | 407.64 | 95.92 |
| 29333100 | PYRIDINE AND ITS SALTS | 29.13 | 93.64 | 22.89 | 94.95 |
| 29362610 | VITAMIN B12 (CYNOCOBALAMIN) | 31.32 | 92.62 | 25.33 | 93.82 |
| 29332920 | METRONIDAZOLE METRONIDIAZOLE BENZOATE | 8.14 | 94.46 | 10.04 | 91.73 |
| 29362290 | OTHER VITAMIN B1I AND ITS DRIVATIVES | 3.03 | 95.47 | 3.08 | 88.85 |
| 29420032 | CIMETIDINE | 0.85 | 98.49 | 0.55 | 84.48 |
| 29420012 | IBUPROFANE | 10.48 | 99.34 | 6.43 | 80.73 |
| 29411030 | AMOXYCILLINE AND ITS SALTS | 42.22 | 90.00 | 37.96 | 88.29 |
| 29419011 | RIFAMPICIN | 8.14 | 89.17 | 39.61 | 89.01 |
| 29419090 | OTHER ANTIBIOTICS | 730.01 | 88.39 | 694.26 | 88.15 |
| 29411020 | AMPICILLINE AND ITS SALTS | 0.71 | 78.41 | 0.38 | 97.33 |
| 29224100 | LYSINE AND ITS ESTERS SALTS THEREOF | 93.40 | 85.32 | 120.82 | 89.13 |
| 29333916 | BETA PIC0LINE (3-METHYL PYRIDINE) | 10.86 | 82.71 | 13.85 | 90.61 |
| 29362700 | VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) AND ITS DERIVATIVES | 21.48 | 82.45 | 22.35 | 87.76 |
| 29411010 | PENICILLINS AND ITS SALTS | 192.15 | 77.03 | 215.51 | 92.87 |
| 29362210 | VITAMIN B1I (THIAMINE, ANEURINE) AND ITS SALT | 10.18 | 85.32 | 15.59 | 81.77 |
| 29332990 | OTHER COMPNDS CNTNG AN UNFUSED IMIDAZOLE RING (W/N HYDROGENATED | 64.00 | 81.69 | 66.36 | 82.33 |
| 29331999 | OTHER | 223.72 | 76.14 | 139.67 | 79.63 |
| 29420090 | OTHER DILOXANIDE FUROATE, CIMETIDINE, FAMOTIDINE NES | 250.40 | 75.29 | 262.11 | 78.96 |
| 29362500 | VITAMIN B6 AND ITS DERIVATIVES | 7.69 | 63.50 | 12.83 | 88.28 |
| 29333918 | LUTIDINE (DIMETHYLE PYRIDINE) | 0.03 | 50.00 | 2.98 | 100.00 |
| 29183030 | NALIDIXIC ACID | 0.05 | 50.00 | 0.72 | 100.00 |
| 29263000 | FENPROPOREX (INN) AND ITS SALTS | 0.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| 29241100 | MEPROBAMATE (INN) | 0.00 | 50.00 | 2.03 | 100.00 |
| 29331920 | 1(2:5 DCHLR-4-SLPHPHNYL)-3-METHYL-5-PYRAZLN | 2.25 | 50.00 | 0.16 | 99.43 |
| 29331940 | PHENYL-METHYL PYRAZOLONE | 0.00 | 50.00 | 0.82 | 99.29 |
| 29335400 | OTHER DERIVATIVES OF MALONYLUREA (BARBITURIC ACID) | 0.15 | 49.83 | 0.31 | 99.43 |
| 29181610 | CALCIUM GLUCONATE | 0.01 | 48.64 | 9.05 | 99.86 |
| 29331980 | OXYPHENBUTAZONE | 0.00 | 50.00 | 0.01 | 97.90 |
| 29371100 | SOMATOTROPIN, ITS DERIVATIVES AND STRUCTURAL ANALOGUES | 0.01 | 50.00 | 0.01 | 96.79 |
| 29215120 | M-PHENYLENEDIAMINE (M-DIAMINOBENZENE) | 0.04 | 46.74 | 4.02 | 98.72 |
| 29335910 | AMINOPHYLLINE(CORDOPHYLIN) | 0.08 | 49.99 | 0.76 | 95.44 |
| 29372900 | OTHR STEROIDAL HORMONES THEIR DERIVATIVES AND STRUCTURAL ANALOGUES | 101.22 | 77.00 | 73.98 | 68.21 |
| 29331970 | ANALGIN | 0.75 | 46.67 | 4.33 | 96.29 |
| 29333929 | Other | 13.84 | 75.51 | 11.71 | 66.48 |
| 29215110 | O- PHENYLENEDIAMINE | 1.18 | 47.56 | 14.83 | 94.05 |
| 29225015 | L-TYROSINE(P-HYDROXYPHENYLAMINE) | 0.01 | 50.00 | 2.64 | 91.13 |
| 29335940 | 1 – AMINO-4METHYL PIPERAZINE | 0.01 | 49.73 | 0.01 | 90.64 |
| 29362950 | VITAMIN H (BI0LIN) | 1.19 | 67.40 | 0.93 | 71.22 |
| 29331910 | 3-CARBOXY (PARA SLPHPHNYL)-5 PYRAZOLONE | 0.10 | 49.05 | 0.13 | 89.54 |
| 29379020 | AMINO-ACID DERIVATIVES | 1.97 | 55.67 | 9.07 | 82.29 |
| 29395900 | OTHER THEOPHYLLINE AND AMINOPHYLLINE THEIR DERIVATIVES, SALTS | 1.52 | 63.12 | 3.08 | 73.86 |
| 29163400 | PHENYLACETIC ACID AND ITS SALTS | 0.00 | 29.57 | 5.79 | 99.94 |
| 29225021 | FRUSEMIDE | 0.02 | 40.10 | 0.36 | 85.43 |
| 29329300 | PIPERAN0L | 0.11 | 28.53 | 2.53 | 92.62 |
| 29333200 | PIPERIDINE AND ITS SALTS | 0.08 | 13.84 | 6.80 | 96.04 |
| 29331100 | PHENAZONE (ANTIPYRIN) AND ITS DERIVATIVES | 0.00 | 10.41 | 1.22 | 98.47 |
| 29359011 | SULPHAMETHOXAZOLE | 0.02 | 25.14 | 0.02 | 82.72 |
| 29332910 | TINIDAZOLE | 0.00 | 9.76 | 0.33 | 96.80 |
| 29224920 | N-METHYL TAURINE | 0.08 | 23.49 | 1.00 | 82.32 |
| 29181120 | CALCIUM LACTATE | 0.00 | 2.11 | 0.37 | 98.86 |
| 29331960 | 1-(M-SULPHOPHENYL)-3-PYRAZOLONE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.28 | 100.00 |
| 29335920 | TRIMETHOPRIM | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.25 | 99.65 |
| 29332950 | ALBENDAZOLE | 0.01 | 0.44 | 1.53 | 98.94 |
| 29224210 | GLUTAMIC ACID | 0.00 | 15.19 | 0.59 | 83.50 |
| 29154010 | MONOCHLOROACETIC ACID, THEIR SALTS AND ESTERS | 0.13 | 12.91 | 1.96 | 85.75 |
| 29419014 | 1 – AMINO -4 – METHYL PIPERAZINE (RIFAINT) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.07 | 98.01 |
| 29095010 | GUAIACOL | 0.00 | 2.26 | 1.87 | 95.51 |
| 29225013 | PROCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 96.46 |
| 29359013 | SULPHADIAZINE | 0.00 | 0.44 | 0.61 | 88.08 |
| 29231000 | CHOLINE AND ITS SALTS | 0.13 | 9.29 | 2.31 | 78.93 |
| 29051410 | ETHAMBUTOL, ETHAMBUTOL HYDROCHLORIDE | 0.00 | 2.27 | 3.70 | 82.23 |
| 29333911 | AMINO PYRIDINE | 0.03 | 2.07 | 7.51 | 80.22 |
| 29182310 | METHYL SALICYLATE | 0.00 | 0.01 | 1.11 | 81.07 |
| 29332100 | HYDANTOIN AND ITS DERIVATIVES | 0.00 | 0.02 | 2.86 | 71.69 |
(Source: DGCI&S)
Annexure-II
| S. No. | Name of product being manufactured |
| 1 | Penicillin G |
| 2 | Clavulanic Acid |
| 3 | Rifampicin |
| 4 | Dexamethasone |
| 5 | Prednisolone |
| 6 | 1,1 Cyclohexane Diacetic Acid (CDA) |
| 7 | Dicyandiamide (DCDA) |
| 8 | Para Amino Phenol |
| 9 | Aspirin |
| 10 | Diclofenac Sodium |
| 11 | Losartan |
| 12 | Olmesartan |
| 13 | Sulfadiazine |
| 14 | Telmisartan |
| 15 | Artesunate |
| 16 | Atorvastatin |
| 17 | Carbamazepine |
| 18 | Oxcarbazepine |
| 19 | Ofloxacin |
| 20 | Norfloxacin |
| 21 | Vitamin B6 |
| 22 | Carbidopa |
| 23 | Levodopa |
| 24 | Levofloxacin |
| 25 | Acyclovir |
| 26 | Levetiracetam |
| 27 | Lopinavir |
| 28 | Valsartan |
This information was given by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
