API exports in 2025 are no longer just a supply chain metric, they have become an important essence of the global pharmaceutical industry.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are the core components behind every pill, patch, and injectable you know. Without APIs, there are no drugs.
In 2025, soaring demand, evolving regulatory landscapes, and rapid shifts in buyer geography have turned API trade into a high-stakes global game. Export volumes have spiked. New players are dominating. Old strongholds are losing ground.
This blog explores everything that you need, here we have discussed:
Let’s dive in.
Global API trade has entered a new phase—fast, fragmented, and fiercely competitive.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, 6,427 shipments of active pharmaceutical ingredients were exported worldwide. That’s a 1,670% year-on-year surge. Let that number sink in.
This wasn’t a fluke. 1,254 exporters shipped to 548 unique buyers across 59 countries. That’s not trade—it’s velocity.
The shift isn’t seasonal. Even August 2024, a single month, logged 32 export shipments, showing 113% growth over August 2023. While flat month-on-month, the long-term spike is undeniable.
|
Metric |
Value (Sep 2023 – August 2024) |
|
Total shipments |
6,427 |
|
Exporting countries |
59 |
|
Importing countries |
52 |
|
Unique exporters |
1,254 |
|
Unique buyers |
548 |
Not just the U.S. or EU. The real heat is in Colombia, Peru, and Vietnam. These aren’t usual suspects—they’re rising formulation hubs.
Colombia alone received hundreds of shipments. From Mexico, India, Japan, even Switzerland. Products ranged from Aspirin to high-value Evrysdi.
These markets are scaling fast. They’re not waiting on Western pharma supply. They’re sourcing directly—and globally.
Not all exporters are equal. Some ship volume. Others ship value. A few do both. Here's who’s winning in 2025—based on real shipment data.
|
Country |
Shipments |
Key Market |
Example Products |
|
Mexico |
805 |
Colombia |
Aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Epamin |
|
India |
692 |
Colombia |
Lidocaine, Versatis Patch, Epamin |
|
Germany |
601 |
LATAM |
Unspecified APIs |
|
Switzerland |
~35 |
Colombia |
Evrysdi ($704K+) |
|
Brazil, UK, Japan, Argentina |
200-500 (combined) |
LATAM, Asia |
Paracetamol, Lidocaine, Alka-Seltzer |
Mexico
Mexico leads the world with 805 shipments, most bound for Colombia. These aren’t niche APIs. Think Aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, and Epamin. High demand. Fast-moving. Broad usage.
Mexico’s location and trade ties give it a freight advantage. It delivers volume with predictable speed.
India
India shipped 692 APIs in 2025, just behind Mexico. But here’s the difference, India holds 48% of active global DMFs. It doesn’t just trade APIs. It makes them.
Example shipments include:
India’s exports reflect deep manufacturing capability, not just repackaging.
Germany
Germany shipped 601 times, mainly into Latin America. While product-level data isn’t detailed, Germany’s reputation for quality speaks volumes.
These aren’t fringe players. They’re precision exporters—sending fewer, higher-value APIs. Mexico and India move bulk. Germany and Switzerland move trust. In 2025, both speed and credibility are currency in API exports.
Below are the top 3 countries that are importing the maximum amount of APIs in the world:
Colombia is the top importer of APIs in the current global dataset. Not the U.S. Not Germany, it’s Colombia.
Colombia’s growing local formulation market. Both public and private buyers are stocking up. Hospitals, wholesalers, and government procurement arms are all in.
Peru and Vietnam are also becoming high-frequency API buyers. Vietnam’s rise makes sense—its domestic manufacturing and generic drug production have been expanding rapidly. The country is investing in CDMO capacity and formulation plants.
Peru, like Colombia, is reinforcing supply stability through diversified imports, especially from Latin American and Asian exporters.
Across the board, Latin America is emerging as the dominant importing region. Whether it’s generics, OTCs, or specialized APIs, the region is sourcing from a global pool of exporters.
India, Mexico, and Germany are all feeding this demand.
2025 isn’t just another year in pharma logistics. It’s a reset.
API exports are no longer dominated by traditional players or legacy routes. Instead, we’re seeing a decentralized, high-velocity ecosystem—where Mexico leads in shipments, India owns capacity, and Colombia tops the demand charts.
Here’s what we can conclude:
The takeaway?
Speed, scale, and trust now drive global API trade. If you’re a manufacturer, exporter, or buyer—know your position, know your leverage.
Want to stay relevant in the global API game? Track DMFs, follow shipment flows, and watch where Colombia moves next. Because the future of pharma isn't decided in boardrooms—it's moving through ports right now.
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