API China Guide: Pharma Raw Materials Fair, Twice a Year
By Ilyas Kerbal,
API China is one of China’s longest-running pharmaceutical trade fairs; the spring 2026 show was its 95th edition. Organised by RX Sinopharm, it’s listed at around 4,000 exhibitors and 200,000 visits, and the spring 2026 edition covered about 70,000 m² at the NECC in Shanghai. It’s the domestic counterpart to CPHI China, with a stronger focus on Chinese buyers. For API suppliers, excipient makers and pharma equipment vendors, the API China attendee list reaches China’s pharma procurement teams directly.
API China at a glance
| Industry | Pharma APIs |
| City | Rotating Chinese cities, China |
| Venue | Rotates, Spring 2026: NECC Shanghai; autumn editions in other Chinese cities |
| Dates | Twice a year, Spring 2026: 13–15 May (Shanghai); Autumn edition later in the year |
| Frequency | Twice a year |
| Moves between cities? | Yes, rotates Chinese cities |
| Typical scale | ~60,000 attendees · ~1,500 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free trade pre-registration |
| App / platform | Online registration + WeChat |
| Official website | apichina.com.cn |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official API China website before you book travel.
What is API China?
Its full name is the China International Pharmaceutical Raw Materials/Intermediates/Packaging/Equipment Fair. It covers:
- APIs and intermediates
- Natural extracts and TCM raw materials
- Veterinary APIs
- Fine chemicals
- Excipients and packaging
- Pharma machinery and lab equipment
API China covers APIs, intermediates, extracts, excipients and pharma machinery. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Twice a year, rotating cities
| Edition | 2026 | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | 13–15 May | NECC, Shanghai |
| Autumn | Later in the year | Usually another Chinese city |
API China moves between cities, so confirm each edition’s location on apichina.com.cn.
Who attends API China
| Visitor | What they want | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese pharma manufacturers’ procurement teams | APIs, excipients, packaging | API and excipient suppliers |
| API traders and distributors | Supply | Manufacturers |
| R&D and QA professionals | Quality materials, lab equipment | Lab and analytical suppliers |
| International sourcing agents | Chinese suppliers | Chinese API makers |
| Equipment buyers | Machinery | Pharma equipment makers |
| Government and industry associations | Policy | Industry bodies |
Going to API China with a sales target? Get the list first. I compile who is exhibiting and attending, add titles, company size and LinkedIn links, and send it as a file your SDRs can work from on day one. Get the API China list
Registration
API China is for trade visitors only. Register online; free pre-registration is standard for RX Sinopharm fairs, but check apichina.com.cn.
Data and verification
Registration and exhibitor search run through apichina.com.cn and RX Sinopharm’s WeChat channels. Most information is in Chinese, and GMP and quality verification are still required for any supplier you meet. For sellers, the procurement teams at Chinese pharma manufacturers are the target, and they’re best reached with an enriched list before the show.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep domestic API supplier base | Location changes |
| Twice a year | More domestic than CPHI |
| Free trade entry | Mostly Chinese-language |
| Complements CPHI China | GMP and quality verification needed |
| Good for Chinese domestic distribution | Can overlap with CPHI timing |
One file, ready for HubSpot, Salesforce or Pipedrive. That’s what you get when you order the API China attendee and exhibitor list from me. Order it here
Preparing for API China
- Check the city for the edition you’re attending.
- Decide between API China and CPHI China, or plan for both.
- Bring Chinese documentation and quality certificates.
- Target procurement teams at mid-sized pharma manufacturers.
- Book meetings three weeks ahead.
- Plan audits for any new supplier relationship.
FAQ
When is API China?
Twice a year. The spring 2026 edition ran 13–15 May at the NECC in Shanghai; the autumn edition is usually in another city.
What’s the difference between API China and CPHI China?
API China is more domestic, with a stronger focus on Chinese buyers; CPHI China is more international.
Is API China free?
Free pre-registration is standard for trade visitors; check apichina.com.cn.
Can I get the API China attendee list?
There’s no exportable list. I can build an enriched list of exhibitors and visitor profiles.
Turn API China into booked meetings
Past clients have used my lists to fill their meeting calendars before a show and to stop leads going cold afterwards. If you want the same for API China, tell me what you sell and who you need to reach, and I’ll come back with what I can deliver and when.
Request your API China list on the home page
Related event guides
- CPHI and PMEC China 2027: Pharma Show Guide and Lead Lists
- CPHI and PMEC India 2026: Delhi Pharma Show Guide and Leads
- CMEF Autumn 2026 Beijing: Medtech Fair Guide and Leads
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: Exit 15 of National Exhibition and Convention Center Station in Shanghai 2024 by Kmchang28, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Hannover Messe 2016 (53) by Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
