Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA): Relationships

Every element and industry that Antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA) is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

  • Pharmaceuticals: 6-APA and 7-ACA are the molecular cores from which penicillins such as amoxicillin and cephalosporins such as ceftriaxone are made, so generic antibiotic makers cannot work without them. Production is concentrated in China, and India is using incentives, floor prices and trade remedies to rebuild its own fermentation chain. (researched)
  • Maize: Maize is a raw material for antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA); their prices have moved together.
  • Sugar: Sugar is a raw material for antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA); their prices have moved together.
  • Small-molecule APIs: Their prices have moved together.
  • Thermal coal: Their prices have moved together.
  • Vitamins: Their prices have moved together.