India’s exports of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) exceeded imports in the financial year 2024–25, reflecting the country’s strengthening capabilities in bulk drug manufacturing.

According to J. P. Nadda, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, India exported APIs worth about INR 41,500 crore in FY25, compared with imports of INR 39,215 crore during the same period.

The minister noted that the government has implemented several initiatives over the past decade to boost domestic production of bulk drugs and reduce reliance on imports.

Despite the increase in exports, imports of APIs have continued to rise gradually—from INR 36,229 crore in FY23 to INR 37,721 crore in FY24 and INR 39,214 crore in FY25. A significant share of these imports continues to come from China, which accounted for around INR 29,064 crore, or nearly 74 Percent of India’s total API imports in FY25.

To strengthen domestic manufacturing, the government introduced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for bulk drugs with an outlay of INR 6,940 crore, aimed at promoting local production of key starting materials, drug intermediates and APIs.

Officials said the initiative is expected to further enhance India’s self-reliance in pharmaceutical raw materials and strengthen its role in the global drug supply chain.