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FACT BRIEF

Are 80% of antibiotics produced by China?

By Sue Bin Park
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NO

While China produces the most antibiotics of any country, it accounts for around 45% of the global supply, not 80%.

According to 2022 data, China’s share of the world antibiotic supply is four times the next largest exporter’s, India.

The U.S. ranks as the 5th largest manufacturer of antibiotics, holding approximately 4.5% of the export market. The U.S. accounted for 7% of antibiotics imported by all countries in 2022.

All major American and European drug manufacturers have ceased production and development of antibiotics. Antibiotics are particularly unprofitable due to multiple regulatory and market factors, such as regulation-enforced low pricing and expensive scaling of production.

However, the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, as well as disproportionate reliance on foreign supply, has prompted bipartisan efforts to revive the development and production of antibiotics in the U.S.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
TrendEconomy Antibiotics | Imports and Exports | 2023
Statista China Dominates the Antibiotics Market
Vox Antibiotics are failing. The US has a plan to launch a research renaissance.
Pew Research The Antibiotic Market Is Broken—and Won’t Fix Itself
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Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation that produces in-depth and investigative journalism as a public service for the benefit of all Oklahomans. Through investigative, fact-driven journalism, we dig deep and examine significant issues facing our state. Our work engages all Oklahomans, amplifies the discussion of important issues and leads to change. We help develop the journalists and journalism of the future.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.