China’s Increasing Demand for Pyridines Calls for More Imports

Pyridines, fine chemical raw materials that China must import, are important and widely applied in the fields of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, daily chemicals, spices, feed additives, etc. The main derivatives are 2-methy1 pyridine, 3-methy1 pyridine and 4-methy1 pyridine. In recent years, China’s demand for pyridines has been increasing. But due to insufficient output, domestic consumers will have to depend on imports for the long term.
     In the pharmaceutical industry, pyridines and pyridine series products are used in making penicillin, norfloxacin, dexamethasone, omeprazole, lansoprazole, acetylspiramycin, sulfonamide, praziquantel, cortisone, antineoplastic drugs, vasodilator, etc. In the domestic market, manufacturers of nicotinic acid and niacinamide, both requiring 3-methy1 pyridine as raw material, consumed the most pyridine series products.
   In 2001, Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co., Ltd and American TVL established a joint venture, which constructed the first production line to manufacture pyridines and related products. Several other pyridine production lines in Shandong, Hebei, etc. have been put into production in recent years.
   China’s pyridine enterprises boast a capacity of 120 000 t/a, with the annual output reaching 80 000 tons. Major manufacturers include Red Sun Group Limited (37 000 t/a), Vertellus (Nantong) Co., Ltd (25 000 t/a), Shandong Lüba Chemicals Co., Ltd (10 000 t/a), Weifang Oliver Green Chemical Co., Ltd (10 000 t/a), Tangshan Chenhong Industrial Co., Ltd (10 000 t/a), Hubei Sanonda Co., Ltd (10 000 t/a) and Henan Xinxiang Hengji Chemical Co., Ltd (10 000 t/a).
   As for the short supply, large enterprises which already provide a little pyridine to the domestic market should take major responsibility. For example, most pyridines of Red Sun Group are used in making the company’s other products like pesticides and intermediates; Vertellus (Nantong) exports most pyridines and supplies a small part to internal firms.
   Therefore, domestic consumers have no choice but to rely on imports. In 2009, China imported 19 371 tons of pyridine series products, totaling US$73.52 million; 2010, 21 404 tons, US$74.6 million; 2011, 17 164 tons, US$62.4 million; 1Q 2012, 5 205 tons, US$17.12 million.
   In recent years, China’s pyridine enterprises have expanded capacity, reducing the product price down from RMB33 000/t in April 2010 to RMB28 000/t in March 2011. But in April 2012, the price rebounded to around RMB30 000/t.
   China’s demand for pyridines and pyridine series products – especially in the fields of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and daily chemicals – will continue to increase, expected to reach 100 000 tons in 2015, with a double-digit annual growth rate. However, as the output can hardly grow at the same pace, importing large quantities is inevitable.