# Antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA): Production

How India restarted penicillin making after two decades

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/production/

What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.

| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| **World capacity** | not published globally; India penicillin G 15,000 t/yr (Lyfius, 2024) |  | Aurobindo (2024) |
| **World output** | not published |  |  |
| **Capacity utilisation** | not published | Lyfius began production in FY 2024-25 and applied for anti-dumping protection in 2026, citing material retardation of a new industry. | Open Magazine (Oct 2026) |
| **Concentration** | a handful of Chinese groups dominate | 6-APA makers listed in market research include Kelun, Sinopharm Weiqida, United Laboratories, Sandoz, DSM Sinochem (now Centrient) and Carbontree (Gelonghui, 2025). Shares not published. | Gelonghui (2025) |
| **New capacity** | PLI fermentation category: penicillin G, 7-ACA, erythromycin thiocyanate, clavulanic acid | Commissioned: Lyfius penicillin G (2024), Kinvan clavulanic acid. 7-ACA and erythromycin thiocyanate projects not confirmed as commissioned. | Department of Pharmaceuticals PLI guidelines (2020); PSU Watch (2026) |

#### Top producing countries

- **China**: dominant in penicillin G, 6-APA and 7-ACA; 87% of India's antibiotic imports
- **India**: penicillin G 15,000 t/yr since 2024; clavulanic acid 400 t/yr
- **European Union**: Sandoz Kundl (Austria) integrated penicillin; 6-APA exports covered by India's 2026 probe
 ORF (Dec 2025); PSU Watch (2026); Open Magazine (2026); Sandoz (indicative)

#### Largest producers: global

| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **United Laboratories** volumes not published | China | not published | 2025 | [Gelonghui](https://m.gelonghui.com/p/1546024) |
| **Kelun Industry Group** | China | not published | 2025 | [Gelonghui](https://m.gelonghui.com/p/1546024) |
| **Sinopharm Weiqida** | China | not published | 2025 | [Gelonghui](https://m.gelonghui.com/p/1546024) |
| **Sandoz** last large Western integrated penicillin site (indicative) | Switzerland / Austria | not published | 2025 | [Gelonghui](https://m.gelonghui.com/p/1546024) |
| **Centrient Pharmaceuticals** supports Indian amoxicillin probe | Netherlands | not published | 2026 | [Open Magazine](https://openthemagazine.com/india/india-launches-anti-dumping-probes-into-seven-chinese-products-including-key-drug-ingredients) |

#### Largest producers: India

| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Lyfius Pharma (Aurobindo)** Kakinada SEZ, Andhra Pradesh | India | 15,000 t/yr penicillin G | 2024 | [PSU Watch (2026)](https://psuwatch.com/amp/story/newsupdates/total-investment-of-rs-5210-crore-made-under-pli-scheme-for-bulk-drugs-till-june-2026-govt) |
| **Apitoria Pharma (Aurobindo)** anti-dumping applicant | India | not published | 2026 | [Open Magazine](https://openthemagazine.com/india/india-launches-anti-dumping-probes-into-seven-chinese-products-including-key-drug-ingredients) |
| **Qule Pharma** anti-dumping applicant | India | not published | 2026 | [Open Magazine](https://openthemagazine.com/india/india-launches-anti-dumping-probes-into-seven-chinese-products-including-key-drug-ingredients) |
| **Kinvan (DPB group)** Rs 505 crore investment | India | 400 t/yr clavulanic acid | 2026 | [PSU Watch (2026)](https://psuwatch.com/amp/story/newsupdates/total-investment-of-rs-5210-crore-made-under-pli-scheme-for-bulk-drugs-till-june-2026-govt) |
| **Virchow Petrochemicals** also imports | India | not published | 2026 | [World Trade Scanner on DGTR](https://worldtradescanner.com/DGTR%20Initiates%20Anti-Dumping%20Probe%20on%20Chinese%20Penicillin%20G%20on%20Lyfius%20Pharma%20Complaint.htm) |

India stopped making penicillin G in the 2000s when Chinese prices fell (indicative) and restarted only with the Lyfius PLI plant in 2024. 7-ACA remains imported.

#### Position by region

| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| **US** | Imports nearly all amoxicillin API and 6-APA via China and India. |
| **EU** | Supports Sandoz Kundl as a strategic penicillin site. |
| **India** | Largest new capacity; protection via MIP and probes. |
| **China** | Dominant supplier with pricing power. |
| **Japan** | Funding domestic beta-lactam API capacity after 2019 cefazolin shortage (indicative). |
| **Middle East** | Not material. |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/routes/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/antibiotic_intermediates/links/index.md)