Germany has become heavily dependent on China for essential pharmaceutical supplies, raising concerns about national health security. A new study warns that if Chinese suppliers were to halt production, Germany could face an annual shortage of 42 million medicine packages, with no alternative sources available.
The report, commissioned by the German generic drug association Pro Generika and conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW), found that 68% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in Europe come from Asia—24% from China and 37% from India. The reliance is even greater in antibiotics: 47% of global antibiotic production facilities are in China, 27% in India, and only 23% in Europe.
A stress test by the researchers showed that any disruption in Chinese supply chains would leave tens of millions of medicine packages unavailable each year. Of 56 critical active ingredients examined, 20 were categorized as high-risk, while only 10.2% of Europe’s API demand can currently be met by domestic production.
The study also revealed that 81% of Germany’s vitamin imports and 76% of antibiotic raw materials originate from China. Key medicines such as the diabetes drug Metformin and the painkiller Paracetamol could face severe shortages if Chinese exports were interrupted.
Andreas Burkhardt, chairman of Pro Generika, warned that Germany’s dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical production “makes the country politically vulnerable.” Jasmina Kirchhoff of IW Cologne noted that this dependency is not coincidental, citing China’s fast-growing innovation capacity—especially in biotechnology—as a major factor driving Europe’s reliance.
David Francas of the Medical Supply Chain Institute added that dependence increases further up the supply chain, with certain raw materials almost entirely sourced from China. In the United States, he noted, 87% of medicines rely on Chinese raw materials.
Currently, Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices lists around 540 medicines as facing supply shortages—underscoring how fragile Europe’s pharmaceutical supply chains have become.
Source: Sputnik News, October 22, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20251022/1068020301.html