Increase in demand
After nearly 50 years of development, a complete production system of β-lactam antibiotics in China has been formed. In 2012, almost all β-lactam antibiotics (except those within the patent period) were produced in China , and the cost was very low. The production of penicillin was in the front of the world, and a large number of exports were supplied to the international market; the cephalosporin antibiotics were basically self-sufficient and can also win some exports.
In 2012, China was able to produce all the intermediates associated with β-lactam antibiotics. All side chain intermediates, except for semi synthetic antibiotics, 7 ACA and 7 ADCA, were produced and exported.
Taking phenylacetic acid, the main supporting intermediates of β-lactam antibiotics, as an example, there are nearly 30 phenylacetic acid manufacturers in China with a total annual production capacity of about 20,000 tons. However, most of them are small in size, with the largest manufacturer producing 2,000 tons per year and every other large-scale manufacturer producing several hundred tons a year. In 2003, the total domestic demand for phenylacetic acid was about 14,000 tons. The consumption structure was that penicillin G accounted for 85%, other medicines accounted for 4%, spices accounted for 7%, and pesticides and other fields accounted for 4%.
With the development of domestic industries of spices, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and others, the demand for phenylacetic acid will further increase. It is estimated that by 2005, China's pharmaceutical industry will consume about 14,000 tons of phenylacetic acid, the pesticide industry will consume 500 tons, and the spice industry will consume about 2,000 tons. Coupled with consumption in other sectors, it is expected that total domestic phenylacetic acid demand will reach 18,000 tons in 2005.
