Fatal China Explosions Affect Pharma Exports

Aug. 19, 2015

Several deadly explosions originating from hazmat warehouse company Ruihai International Logistics last week have also disrupted operations in a key pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

The tragic blasts -- which resulted in 114 deaths -- came from a politically-connected chemical warehouse in the China port city Tianjin that has reportedly been dodging safely restrictions and licensing for months.

Several pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk and Servier, have operations within a few mile radius of the destruction and, according to analysts at IHS Life Sciences, are now scrambling to gauge the damage. Domestic companies Tianjin Century Pharmaceuticals, Tianjin Shuangxuntang Pharmaceuticals, and Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Industries also have operations in close proximity to the blast site.

IHS Life Sciences analysts expect the explosion to cause significant disruption to the shipment of non-time-sensitive pharmaceutical exports, as well as the possibility of disruptions at surrounding port areas.

Read the WSJ article about the explosion