Indian pharma industry is making China its destination to source packaging and printing materials. Novel concepts and cost efficiency are driving many of these companies to the dragon land. At the Interphex China 2012 concurrently held with API Spring and PharmChina events at Hefei, there was a dedicated zone for global pharma packaging majors from the Republic of China. There was a beeline of customers from pharma companies in India and abroad to look at the new products.

According to Lily Qui, sales manager, Taixing Kang Cheng, a major source of aluminium and laminated foils, India is a key market for China’s packaging industry. It is a business strategy to access quality at a lower cost.

There is also a huge demand for single dose easy to use, tamper proof and environment friendly packaging solutions. These are some of the emerging trends for the pharma, personal care, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, said an official from Yili Capsule.

Companies in China are also working to ensure that the latest technology is adopted as this would have a tremendous impact in the tapping customers, stated a section of officials from the packaging and printing industry.

India, being a major exporter to the regulated markets, needs high quality packaging. This is where China’s leading companies in the space including Joyea Corporation, Packaging Stick Hochein, Imausion, Changzhao Granulating, Luoyang Yuluo Bottle Caps, Shang Dong Pharma  Glass, Ningbo Dragon Packaging are looking at sales and sustainability in the competitive market, said an industry observer.

For Kang Cheng a well-known manufacturer of Alu-Alu foil, has now commenced its discussion with Indian customers. It is already in the South East Asian region. Going by the size of the industry in India and with the international regulatory authorities imposing specific packaging norms, we are here to supply to India, said the company official.

For Haishun Packaging which is into blister foil, soft and flexible packs, 60 per cent of the market is tapped from China and remaining 40 per cent is from the India and South East Asia.

Ying Tao Capsule representative said that packaging and printing technology companies have an advantage in striking deals if they are selected by a US and Europe company. There is need also a need to innovate in the market as China already has over 500 companies in this space vying for an order.

According to Shah Trading Company the market for packaging materials offers a huge variety and is cost competitive. Packaging is one of the cornerstones of the pharma marketing and therefore there is need for durability and design.