China Pharmaceutical Industry’s Profit Rises 40 Percent In First Five Months Of 2008
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
National Development and Reform Commission figures show that for the first five months of 2008, the pharmaceutical industry recorded a gross industrial output value of 311.6 billion yuan ($45.6 billion) and a profit of 27.8 billion yuan ($4.07 billion), up 29 percent and 43.6 percent respectively from the same period last year. The profit represents 22.7 percentage points higher than the national industry average, placing the sector third in the country's 12 major industries. Pharmaceutical raw materials overtook Chinese patent medicine as the second largest profit source for the sector. NDRC sees continuous rapid growth with investment returns improving. However, the industry faces major challenges such as soaring raw material prices for energy, blood product shortages and need for standardized distribution control, as well as slowdown in investment. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)