| By Daisy Zhang, Asia Manufacturing Pharma |
| Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
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China’s pharmaceutical industry is expected to experience an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of approximately 20 per cent going forward, giving hard capsules ample room to develop a foothold in the market. According to Qinghai Gelatin’s 2007 annual report, China’s hard capsule market is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of 15 to 20 per cent over the next 5 to 10 years.
Hard capsules are made of pharmaceutical gelatin with colorant and opacifier added in compliance with China’s GB2760 Hygienic Standard for Food Additive Usage. |
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The hard capsule improves drug stability and, as it dissolves quickly, can be easily absorbed by the human body.
It is widely used in the packaging of solid drugs including tablets, granules and powders. Demand for hard capsules in China has been growing steadily since 1996, up from 44.6 billion capsules per year to 149.5 billion capsules in 2007, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.6 per cent.
Hard capsules have now become a major packaging material, and drugs in hard capsule form produced in China account for approximately 20 per cent of all oral solid drugs, according to Qinghai Gelatin’s study. |
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As consumer purchasing power and economic status further rises, and health awareness among national healthcare organizations and consumers continues to grow, domestic consumption of pharmaceutical products will further increase. The expected 20% AAGR gives hard capsules ample room to develop its foothold.
In recent years, as traditional Chinese medicines in decoction or pill form have gradually shifted to other forms of dispensing such as granules, demand for hard capsules will increase steadily. In addition, high-speed growth of capsule-form health care products is also driving up the demand for hard capsules.
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