The albuterol sulphate price rose in India, the United States and Germany in Q2 2026. That reverses the soft prices Asia saw only two quarters earlier. ChemAnalyst's albuterol sulphate price index shows India settling at INR 500,000/MT FOB in Q2 2026, driven by a 4.1% rise in producer prices in June. For makers of inhalers and nebulisers, an API that has long been among the cheapest in respiratory care is now one to watch.
Key numbers
- India, Q2 2026: INR 500,000/MT FOB India, up on producer price inflation
- United States, Q2 2026: up, with producer prices rising 6.5% year-over-year in May
- Germany, Q2 2026: up on production costs and supply disruption
- The shift: China's index fell in Q3 and Q4 2025 on deflation and overcapacity
One molecule, two names
Albuterol is the US name for this API. Salbutamol is the international name. They are the same molecule. ChemAnalyst tracks both, including a separate salbutamol sulphate price series. If your suppliers quote under one name and your contracts use the other, align them so you are benchmarking against the right series.
Why did Asia turn?
Through late 2025, Asian prices were weak. In Q4 2025, China's index fell as producer prices dropped 1.9% and chemical oversupply squeezed producer margins. Costs then reversed.
In Q1 2026, naphtha and propylene feedstock costs surged on Middle East supply disruptions, and freight for imported intermediates spiked with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In Q2, rising prices for pharmaceutical intermediates worldwide raised production costs. Lower domestic natural gas output in May also raised energy costs.
Demand was not the driver. Domestic consumer spending was weak, and high inventories held by overseas buyers in May limited export pull. That makes this a cost-led increase, which matters for how long it lasts.
North America and Europe
US prices rose for a fourth consecutive quarter. Demand stayed positive because chronic respiratory conditions are increasing and the US pharma market is growing. Higher electricity and fuel costs added to production costs. In Q1, a major regional producer stopped operations in January and tightened supply of nebuliser solutions, while new generic inhaler capacity approvals in March began to add supply.
In Germany, raw material shortages worsened in Q2, including from the Strait of Hormuz closure. Strong pharmaceutical demand added further upward pressure.
What buyers should do before the next contract
- Link price reviews to producer price indices. Producer prices in the US, India and Germany have tracked this API more closely than demand has.
- Check intermediate exposure. Suppliers that depend on imported propylene- or naphtha-based precursors were hit first in Q1. Ask where their key starting materials come from.
- Keep a second qualified source. The January plant stoppage showed that one outage can tighten nebuliser supply within weeks. Qualifying a backup takes far longer than that.
Outlook
The risk is to the upside. Costs rose across all three regions at the same time, Middle East freight risk has not cleared, and respiratory demand is steady regardless of the economy. The main thing that could ease prices is new generic capacity in the US taking effect. Buyers should plan for firm prices through the winter respiratory season.
Track regional albuterol sulphate prices, drivers and forecasts on the ChemAnalyst albuterol sulphate price page.
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