Health & Beauty

"Economic Information Daily" reporter learned in Bozhou, Anhui, the largest Chinese medicinal material distribution center and price formation center, that multiple factors such as the epidemic, weather, and the implementation of the new version of the pharmacopoeia have led to an imbalance in the supply and demand of Chinese medicinal materials, and prices have generally risen. , Pharmaceutical companies have had varying degrees of impact.

Chinese medicinal materials usher in price increases

Like most operators in the professional market of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Bozhou, Shi Enli, who has been in the business of rehmannia for more than 30 years, has experienced a strong increase in the prices of medicinal materials this year.

"Selling rehmannia glutinosa has been the highest price in history this year for so many years. In previous years, it sold more than 10 yuan per kilogram. This year it has risen to more than 30 yuan. This is rare." Shi Enli said that the increase in prices was accompanied by the decline in sales. It can sell six or seven tons of rehmannia, and now it has been reduced by nearly half to three or four tons.

The Bozhou Chinese Medicinal Material Market is the largest Chinese medicinal material trading center in the country. There are more than 3,000 business booths in the trading hall, more than 1,600 fixed stores on the periphery, and more than 20,000 drug dealers. A number of Chinese medicinal materials operators told reporters that since the beginning of this year, the prices of Chinese medicinal materials have begun to show a general upward trend.

"Huangshan tribute chrysanthemum used to be 160 yuan per kilogram, but now it has risen to 200 yuan, and the rose has also risen by 20 yuan." said Zhang Taifang, who has been dealing with Chinese herbal medicine and scented tea varieties for more than 20 years. In previous years, there were several or a dozen varieties. Rising, the price of Chinese medicinal materials has generally risen this year, accounting for about 50%.

The latest data from the relevant Chinese medicinal materials website shows that among the 515 Chinese medicinal materials monitored by it, 246 varieties have experienced price increases to varying degrees, accounting for 47.77%. Among them, the annual growth rate of perilla seed is 341%, the annual growth rate of horse money seed is 300%, and the annual growth rate of gecko, mulberry, silver chaihu and other varieties is more than 200%.

As the first of the four Bo medicines, Bozhou's authentic medicinal material Bo Paeoniae Alba has also ushered in a price increase after years of low prices. “The price of dried white peony with the same quality last year was 10 yuan per kilogram, and this year it has risen to 16 yuan.” Mei Yan, chairman of the Meiyan Chinese Medicinal Plant Professional Cooperative, said that it is the season for the harvest of white peony, although the production of white peony has risen Price, but the supply exceeds the demand, so there is no worries about the market.

Xu Hongwei, president of the Anhui Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials Industry Association, said that this year's price increase of Chinese medicinal materials showed a wide range and rapid growth. "In previous years, there were several varieties or a certain category. This year, it has generally risen, and it has risen relatively quickly. The price has risen rapidly in a short period of time. For example, forsythia is more than 70 yuan per kilogram before the new production, and it quickly rises to 110 yuan a month after the new production. "Xu Hongwei said.

In the face of rising prices, business operators will reduce their order quantity to reduce business risks.

"With the increase in prices, the decrease in sales, and the increase in costs, our profits have also dropped a lot. One ton can earn less than 2,000 yuan. In previous years, a variety of goods took 8 to 10 tons, and this year it will be reduced to one ton." Zhang Taifang said, Most business operators are in a wait-and-see state, and they are worried about price increases as they sell and purchase.

The superposition of multiple factors leads to an imbalance between supply and demand

What are the reasons for the general rise in prices of Chinese medicinal materials? Many people in the industry said that the superposition of multiple factors such as the epidemic situation, weather, and the implementation of the new version of the pharmacopoeia has resulted in an imbalance between the supply and demand of Chinese medicinal materials, resulting in a general increase in the price of Chinese medicinal materials.

The epidemic has an obvious impact on the prices of Chinese medicinal materials. The general prescription "Qingfei Paidu Decoction" has been written into the national diagnosis and treatment plan, and the whole process of in-depth intervention of Chinese medicine...The occurrence of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic has further increased the recognition of Chinese medicine by the public, and has also stimulated the demand for Chinese medicinal materials. Promote the price increase of some categories. For example, during the epidemic, the price of Forsythia rose from more than 50 yuan per kilogram to more than 70 yuan. Atractylodes, Atractylodes, Radix isatidis, etc. also experienced different price increases.

While demand is rising, some imported varieties have been hindered by the impact of the epidemic, domestic stocks have decreased, and prices have risen. "For example, Maqianzi is a controlled variety, mainly imported. Affected by the epidemic, domestic stocks have decreased and prices have risen. Vietnamese goods have risen from more than 40 yuan per kilogram at the beginning of the year to 130 yuan now." Anhui Days Trading Co., Ltd. Manager Li Beibei said that the epidemic has largely affected the supply and demand of Chinese medicinal materials.

Inclement weather and other reasons have caused the supply of Chinese medicinal materials to exceed demand. Many people in the industry said that heavy rains across the country, including Henan, have caused disasters in the production areas of some Chinese medicinal materials, and local Chinese medicinal materials are facing a reduction in production. "This year there are more abnormal weather, and the production of white peony has been reduced by 20%. The original one mu of land can produce 2,000 kg of fresh white peony, but this year up to 1,800 kg." Mei Yan said that the price of white peony has also risen accordingly.

The rehmannia glutinosa operated by Shi Enli mainly comes from Henan. In his opinion, the floods in Henan are the main reason for the increase in the price of rehmannia glutinosa this year. "Rehmannia glutinosa is most afraid of waterlogging. This year's floods have caused the output of Rehmannia glutinosa to drop sharply. As a large variety, it is used in large quantities, but the market is out of stock and supply exceeds demand, so price increases are inevitable."

At the same time, some people in the industry said that the prices of some Chinese medicinal materials have been sluggish for a long time, farmers have been low in planting, and the planting area has been reduced for several consecutive years. This has led to weak market stocks and bottomed out this year and prices have risen.

In addition, the new version of the Pharmacopoeia has improved the quality requirements of Chinese medicinal materials. The 2020 version of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China will be implemented on December 30, 2020. The new standards for some varieties have changed. The original specifications cannot meet the current needs. The total number of qualified product regulations has decreased, but the market demand is large. Prices have risen, such as beetles, cassia seeds, and jujube seeds.

"Because of the difficulty in controlling the qualified rate of aflatoxin in the beetle, there is a large price gap between the qualified specifications and the non-compliant specifications. The total amount of fully inspected qualified products has increased from 52 yuan at the beginning of the year to 110 yuan per kilogram." Bozhou Chinese herbal medicine professional market e-commerce operation Ministry staff said that the release of the new version of the Pharmacopoeia has improved the quality control of Chinese medicinal materials, hindering the market circulation of non-compliant Chinese medicinal materials and tightening the supply of medicinal materials.

Take multiple measures to deal with risks

The industry believes that the price increase of Chinese medicinal materials not only reflects the increase in people's recognition of Chinese medicine, but also brings certain risks and impacts. They hope that the prices of Chinese medicinal materials can run smoothly and develop soundly.

Many pharmaceutical companies stated that their downstream sales channels are different and have been affected to varying degrees. Some companies signed long-term contracts with hospitals at the beginning of the year and were unable to adjust prices based on the market, resulting in large losses. Some companies supplying pharmacies and pharmaceutical factories have increased the price of medicines according to market conditions. While the price has been increased, sales have fallen to varying degrees, and profits have also decreased accordingly.

"We didn't expand our inventory in advance. We bought and sold as we went. The price of more than half of the decoction pieces increased by 20% to 30%, and the corresponding sales volume was also reduced by nearly 20%. There was no profit." Anhui Shengan, which sells nearly 1,000 types of decoction pieces Xing Kun, general manager of Tang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., said that he was afraid that after the price of Chinese medicinal materials reached a high point, there would be a drooping decline, he did not dare to stock up at will.

Some export-oriented pharmaceutical companies stated that the increase in drug prices has also had a certain impact on foreign sales. "Some foreign consumers are in a wait-and-see attitude, and export orders have also declined." said Zhao Weihe, deputy general manager of Anhui Xiehecheng Pharmaceutical Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd.

Xu Hongwei said that the increase in prices will eventually be transferred to consumers, who will need to bear more expenses, which is not conducive to the long-term development of Chinese medicine.

Many growers said that although the price increase is conducive to increasing farmers' enthusiasm for planting, it may also cause pharmaceutical farmers to flock to plant Chinese medicinal materials, blindly expand the planting area, and bring certain risks.

Facing the trend of price increases, many pharmaceutical companies said that while the companies themselves strengthen market price monitoring and analysis, improve their forecasting capabilities, and carry out strategic reserve purchases of key raw and auxiliary materials, the state can establish a strategic reserve of Chinese medicinal materials to purchase, store, and Put stocks and regulate market prices to ensure a balanced supply of raw materials for traditional Chinese medicines and stabilize market price fluctuations.

At the same time, many industry insiders suggested that the government strengthen macro-control on planting, strengthen relevant information release and guidance, ensure the orderly development of medicinal materials from the supply side, and combat hoarding, malicious speculation, and price-ups.

"While guiding farmers to plant rationally and scientifically, the government can also increase technical guidance to growers, improve the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, and ensure the normal supply of qualified Chinese medicinal materials," said Zhao Weihe.