China and India Match Shares in Antimalarial Market
Antimalarial exporters face rising competition as supply capacity shifts and pricing pressures mount for global procurement.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Healthcare
Live Poll
Does more competition between global drug companies generally make essential medicines more affordable for you?
Chinese and Indian pharmaceutical firms now hold nearly equal shares of the antimalarial drug market in 12 African countries as of 2025. This competition reflects a shift in procurement, with Chinese exporters closing the gap in market value against Indian competitors.
Why it matters
The rise of Chinese manufacturing capacity for finished antimalarial products challenges the traditional dominance of Indian suppliers in African markets. For operators, this intensifying competition signals potential long-term pricing pressure and a shifting landscape for global health procurement contracts.
Chinese antimalarial exports rose to US$89.3 million in 2025, nearing the US$89.6 million reported by India. While India maintained 54.5 percent of total cargo weight, its import share across eight African countries dropped from 71.5 percent in 2022 to 64.2 percent in 2025.
The players
Guilin Pharmaceutical
A major Chinese drug manufacturer specializing in the mass production of artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines.
Fosun Pharma
A global Chinese healthcare group expanding its pharmaceutical manufacturing footprint through new facilities in Ivory Coast.
Fidson Healthcare
A Nigerian pharmaceutical company partnering with Chinese firms to increase local production capacity for antiretroviral drugs.
The details
Chinese firms have evolved from supplying raw active ingredients to manufacturing finished pharmaceutical goods, particularly injectable artesunate and blister packs. By leveraging an internal advantage in artemisinin-based production, these companies have secured a significant portion of Global Fund deliveries, with Guilin Pharmaceutical alone accounting for 45.6 percent of the examined volume. To cement this position, firms like Fosun Pharma and Jiangsu Aidea Pharma are now establishing localized manufacturing plants in Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Timeline
2021: Indian exports of antimalarials reached $121 million.
2021-2025: Global Fund purchased drugs for 13 African countries.
2022-2025: India's import share in eight countries declined.
2025: Chinese and Indian antimalarial export values nearly matched.
Market Landscape
The competitive shift follows the established standards set by Global Fund procurement contracts. Chinese manufacturers are now successfully challenging Indian suppliers by leveraging price and capacity to capture large-scale international medical supply agreements.
Operators in the pharmaceutical supply chain should monitor the price stabilization expected from this manufacturing rivalry. Watch for new localized partnerships as Chinese and Indian firms move production closer to African end-markets to secure long-term demand.
The takeaway
The rapid growth of Chinese pharmaceutical exports demonstrates that dominance in global health procurement is shifting toward firms that can control both price and local supply infrastructure. Business leaders should track the progress of ongoing plant constructions in Nigeria and Ivory Coast as indicators of future regional competition.
Further reading
For more insight into regional health industry trends, visit the Healthcare section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
Live Poll
Does more competition between global drug companies generally make essential medicines more affordable for you?
