# Small-molecule APIs

Active pharmaceutical ingredients: the purified molecules that make medicines work. India formulates the world's generics but still buys most hard-to-make inputs from China.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/apis/

Fine chemicals · Pharmaceutical · No. 92

- Product family
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- not published as a global tonnage; individual APIs range from a few kilograms a year (oncology, peptides) to over 100 kt (paracetamol, metformin)
- HS 2941, 2942
 Fine chemicals · Pharmaceutical · Foundation · Matter

India makes the world's generic pills, yet over 70% of the chemicals it imports to make them come from China.

Chart: Illustration: Small-molecule APIs

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

APIs are built in multi-step batch synthesis from petrochemicals, or by fermentation for antibiotics; most of the 168-308 kg of material used per kg is solvent and water.

##### Three things to know

1. India's bulk drug PLI scheme, with a Rs 6,940 crore outlay, had approved 48 projects and commissioned 38 by December 2025.
2. After India's PLI launch, China cut prices on some APIs by 40-50%, keeping pressure on new Indian plants.
3. Paracetamol API jumped from Rs 262/kg in January 2020 to Rs 450/kg by March as Hubei locked down.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Basic chemicals**Benzene, toluene, phenol, methanol and solvents
2. 2 **Starting materials**Registered building blocks, mostly from China
3. 3 **Intermediates**Several synthesis steps under GMP rules
4. 4 **Purified API**Crystallised, dried and tested to pharmacopoeia
5. 5 **Medicines**Tablets, capsules and injections worldwide
 Covered in [The chemical industry: what it makes and how it is organisedChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/chem-industry-map/)[Pharmaceuticals and fermentation: from molecule to medicineChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/pharmaceuticals-and-fermentation/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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