Three days at CPHI China 2026 gave us the opportunity to meet pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, and industry professionals from around the world.

For Drugdu.com, exhibitions are not only about networking. They are also one of the best places to observe how the pharmaceutical industry is evolving and what companies are focusing on next.

After hundreds of conversations across APIs, formulations, extracts, excipients, and pharmaceutical services, a few themes kept coming up.

1. Companies Are Looking for Their Next Growth Market

One topic appeared repeatedly throughout the exhibition:

Where should we focus next?

Latin America.

The Middle East.

Southeast Asia.

These regions were mentioned far more often than we expected.

Many companies are no longer asking whether they should expand internationally. They are already active in global markets.

The discussion has shifted toward market selection, resource allocation, and identifying the next region that offers sustainable growth.

For many pharmaceutical companies, internationalization is no longer a strategy on paper. It has become an ongoing business decision.

2. Companies Are Asking More About Markets Than Products

Another noticeable shift was the nature of the conversations.

In previous years, many discussions focused primarily on products, certifications, and manufacturing capabilities.

This year, we heard more questions such as:

Which products are seeing stronger demand?

Which regions are sourcing more actively?

Where are new opportunities emerging?

Which therapeutic areas are attracting attention?

Many companies were seeking market signals before making commercial decisions.

Rather than simply presenting what they can manufacture, they are increasingly trying to understand what the market actually needs.

That may sound like a small difference, but it reflects a significant shift in mindset.

3. Buyers Are Evaluating Companies, Not Just Products

Another observation shared by many exhibitors was that buyer evaluations are becoming more comprehensive.

Price, specifications, and delivery timelines remain important.

But buyers are also paying closer attention to:

Quality systems

Regulatory support capabilities

International business experience

Supply chain reliability

Long-term partnership potential

In API and formulation businesses especially, many companies noted that buyers are looking beyond individual products and assessing whether a supplier can support long-term cooperation.

Products open the door.

Company capability increasingly determines whether the conversation moves forward.

A Bigger Shift Behind These Conversations

Across all of these discussions, one broader trend became increasingly clear.

Chinese pharmaceutical companies are being viewed differently in global markets.

For many years, conversations about China largely focused on manufacturing capacity and supply capabilities.

Today, more Chinese companies are participating in international registrations, strategic partnerships, technology development, and global market expansion.

As a result, buyers are paying greater attention to innovation, quality systems, regulatory expertise, and long-term business credibility.

Perhaps the question is also changing.

For years, we focused on how many markets Chinese pharmaceutical companies entered.

Today, another question is becoming increasingly relevant:

What kind of influence are Chinese pharmaceutical companies building in global markets?

Introducing the China Pharma Global Influence Top 500

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Drugdu.com.

Over the past decade, we have connected pharmaceutical buyers and suppliers worldwide and witnessed the international growth of countless Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

During CPHI China 2026, we officially launched the China Pharma Global Influence Top 500 Initiative.

The project is designed to recognize pharmaceutical companies that are building meaningful influence in global markets through innovation, product competitiveness, international partnerships, market presence, and long-term industry contribution.

More importantly, it reflects a trend we have been observing for years:

Global success is no longer measured solely by export volume or market access.

It is increasingly reflected in a company’s ability to create long-term value, earn global recognition, and build lasting influence.

Thank you to everyone who visited the Drugdu.com booth during CPHI China 2026.

The exhibition may have ended, but the conversations continue.

We look forward to staying connected with pharmaceutical professionals around the world and sharing more insights from the global healthcare market.