The Albuterol Sulphate price in the United States has moved up for four straight quarters, according to ChemAnalyst's public price index, which showed a further rise in Q2 2026 (April to June) on higher producer costs. For procurement teams buying albuterol sulphate (also sold as salbutamol sulphate) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the question now is how long input costs, seasonal demand and trade policy will keep pressure on contracts.
Albuterol Sulphate Price Trend in the USA: Latest Quarters
ChemAnalyst's albuterol sulphate price trend page reports the US index direction for each recent quarter:
- Q3 2025: rose quarter over quarter
- Q4 2025: rose quarter over quarter
- Q1 2026: rose quarter over quarter
- Q2 2026: rose, attributed to higher producer costs
The same page cites a 6.5% year-over-year increase in the US producer price index for May 2026 as context for the cost pressure. The public page gives directional movement for the US rather than a dollar figure, so buyers who need a number for a budget or a contract should request the live data from ChemAnalyst rather than rely on retail drug prices, which reflect pharmacy margins and not bulk API trade.
What Drives Albuterol Sulphate Prices
Three factors matter most to a buyer.
Input and energy costs. Albuterol is a synthetic molecule, so its price follows the cost of petrochemical-derived feedstocks, solvents, energy and freight. ChemAnalyst's page links the 2026 increases to higher feedstock and energy costs, naming naphtha, propylene, natural gas and crude oil, and to higher freight costs tied to geopolitical disruption, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Respiratory demand. US demand is supported by asthma and COPD treatment and by seasonal illness. ChemAnalyst cites strong retail sales and seasonal respiratory activity as support for US prices in Q2 2026. Its companion salbutamol sulphate page also notes a flu-driven demand surge in January 2026 and tight hospital inventories in Q1.
Finished-product supply. Albuterol inhalation solution has been in and out of shortage since 2022. A September 2026 report on a Ritedose press release says the FDA has designated the 0.5% albuterol inhalation solution shortage as resolved after nearly four years, and that the manufacturer has added sterile blow-fill-seal capacity. The same report notes that the shortage resolution does not reduce near-term demand, with more than 26 million US patients using albuterol inhalation solution. The report itself recommends verifying the FDA status directly, and buyers should do the same.
USA vs India, China and Europe
The US is a net importer of albuterol sulphate API, so price moves elsewhere reach US buyers through import costs. ChemAnalyst's regional commentary shows different paths:
- United States: index up in each of the last four quarters.
- India: index rose in Q2 2026. This is the only public numeric price on the page: INR 500,000/MT, FOB India, for the quarter ending June 2026.
- China: index fell in Q3 and Q4 2025 amid chemical overcapacity, then rose in Q1 and Q2 2026 on feedstock and production costs.
- Germany: index was stable or lower through most of 2025 and early 2026, then rose in Q2 2026 on higher production costs.
For buyers, the pattern is that the US has not enjoyed the softer prices seen in China and Germany in late 2025. Comparing FOB Asia offers with delivered US quotes, including freight and duty, is the reliable way to check whether a supplier's price is competitive.
Supply Chain, FDA and Tariff Risks
Trade policy is the largest open question. A July 22, 2026 Pharmaceutical Executive report describes a phased plan announced on July 21, 2026 for imported generic drugs: a 100% tariff beginning in August 2028 and 200% in 2029, intended to pull generic production into the US. The same report says patented drugs and their ingredients have faced a 100% tariff under a Section 232 action dated April 2, 2026, while generics, biosimilars and related ingredients were exempt at that time. It also notes that India supplies nearly half of generic medicines consumed in the US and that China dominates upstream API supply.
Albuterol sulphate is a long-established generic ingredient, so it falls into the generics category rather than the patented one. Nothing is in force today, but a two-year window is short for qualifying a new API source, which usually takes drug master file review, audits and stability data. Buyers with single-source exposure to Indian or Chinese producers should start dual-sourcing work now.
Albuterol Sulphate Price Outlook
The public data supports a firm near-term outlook. Producer costs are rising, respiratory demand is seasonal and the autumn and winter months typically lift inhaler and nebuliser demand, and supply chains are still adjusting to trade policy. ChemAnalyst's page describes forecasts that extend up to three months ahead on its platform. Risks to the downside include renewed Chinese overcapacity and lower energy costs. Risks to the upside include freight disruption and any rush to build inventory ahead of tariffs.
Practical steps for US buyers: review contract price-adjustment clauses linked to feedstock indices, lock volumes for the winter respiratory season, and ask suppliers to confirm country of origin for the API and the intermediates.
Key Suppliers and Buyers in the US Market
ChemAnalyst's salbutamol sulphate page lists producers including Supriya Lifescience, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Aarti Pharmalabs and Virupaksha Organics. US demand comes from inhaler and nebuliser solution manufacturers, generic drug makers and contract manufacturers such as Ritedose, along with the hospital and pharmacy channels they supply. For a view of supplier and buyer companies, see ChemAnalyst's pharma companies ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current albuterol sulphate price in the USA?
ChemAnalyst's index for the United States rose in Q2 2026 on higher producer costs, the fourth straight quarterly increase. The public page does not publish a USD per kg figure. Bulk API prices depend on grade, volume and origin, so request live data from ChemAnalyst for a quote-ready benchmark.
Is albuterol sulphate the same as salbutamol sulphate?
Yes. Albuterol is the US name and salbutamol is the international name for the same short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator. Albuterol sulphate and salbutamol sulphate refer to the same API, which is why price pages and supplier listings use both terms.
Why are albuterol sulphate prices rising?
According to ChemAnalyst, higher producer costs, rising feedstock and energy prices, higher freight costs and seasonal respiratory demand have all pushed the US index up. Tight inventories in some quarters added support. Finished-product demand is also steady, with more than 26 million US users of inhalation solution.
Will tariffs affect albuterol sulphate prices?
They could. A phased plan reported on July 22, 2026 proposes 100% tariffs on imported generics from August 2028 and 200% in 2029. Generics were exempt from the earlier 2026 pharmaceutical tariffs. Buyers should model landed cost scenarios and consider qualifying alternative or US-based supply.
Where does the US import albuterol sulphate from?
The sources reviewed do not give an albuterol-specific import breakdown. They do show that India supplies nearly half of US generic medicines and China dominates upstream API supply. Check country of origin with your supplier and confirm it against your drug master file documentation.
Track Live Albuterol Sulphate Prices
For live benchmarks, regional comparisons and quarterly forecasts, use ChemAnalyst's albuterol sulphate price chart and request the latest albuterol sulphate prices to plan your next purchase with current data.
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