Cefalotin Price Trend Analysis 2026: Latest News, Market Insights, Historical Prices, Supply Demand Analysis & Price Drivers

Pragati Agarwal profile photo
Written ByPragati Agarwal

Procurement Resource Database

Laptop screen

Turn price intelligence into action with the Procurement Resource Database. Log in or subscribe to unlock live price trends, historical charts, supplier databases, cost curves, and analyst-backed insights across chemicals, agriculture, energy, packaging, and more. Use these tools to benchmark your contracts, plan budgets with confidence, and stay ahead of market moves on every product you buy.

0

+

Products

0

+

Regions

0

+

Subscriptions

The global antibiotics sector is undergoing several challenges and the cefalotin market is equally influenced by these changes. Since the advent of 2024, the key players in antibiotics have raised their price quotations to sustain in the market. The US market, during the initial phase of 2024 followed the trail of the previous years as the players introduced their price hikes. However, the federal government took some measures to curb this price increase, which was yet to showcase any effect on the price trend of cefalotin.

In South Korea, the demand for cephalosporin-based antibiotics like cefalotin exceeded the supply, and thus, the deepening shortage of the commodity led to a substantial effect on its pricing trajectory. Many domestic, local, and overseas pharmaceutical companies halted and downsized their cephalosporin production as the surge in the cost of raw materials since the fourth quarter of 2023 has decreased their profitability. The market players also anticipate that the market may continue to experience this shortage as there are no signs of easing in the prices of feedstock materials.

About Cefalotin

Cephalothin is a beta-lactam, first-generation cephalosporin broad-spectrum antibiotic with bactericidal activity. It is used as an antimicrobial and antibacterial drug. Cephalothin binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) located on the inner membrane of the bacterial cell wall. Inactivation interferes with the cross-linkages, which weakens the bacterial cell wall and hence, causes cell lysis. It is highly effective against gram-positive bacteria.

Cefalotin Product Detail

HS Code
29411090
Chemical Formula

C16H16N2O6S2

CAS Number
153-61-7
Molecular Weight
396.4 g/mol
Industrial Uses

Antibacterial Agent, Antibiotics, Therapeutic Agents

Synonyms

Cephalothin, Cephalothinum

Supplier Database

Abbvie Inc. (ALLERGAN PLC.), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Novartis International AG, Pfizer Inc.

Regional Coverage

Asia Pacific

China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Israel, Hongkong, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, and New Zealand

Europe

Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy,Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Ireland Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Finland, Czech Republic, Portugal and Greece

North America

United States and Canada

Latin America

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru

Africa

South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco

CurrencyUS$ (Data can also be provided in local currency)

Supplier Database AvailabilityYes

Customization ScopeThe report can be customized as per the requirements of the customer

Post-Sale Analyst Support360-degree analyst support after report delivery

Note: Our supplier search experts can assist your procurement teams in compiling and validating a list of suppliers indicating they have products, services, and capabilities that meet your company's needs.

Cefalotin Production Processes

  • Production of Cefalotin via Crystallization

Cephalothin is synthesized from 7-Amino cephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) and thiophene2-acetic acid using the cephalosporin-C acylase enzyme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cefalotin's outlook stays range-bound to firm. Gradually improving feedstock availability is offset by persistent regulatory and quality-driven cost pressures and steady antibiotic demand. Easing supply tightness in Asian markets, where Chinese and Indian API producers benefit from better feedstock flows, tends to lend a softer tone to spot offers. European material continues to carry a premium from elevated compliance and energy-linked conversion costs. North American pricing tracks import parity and institutional demand, with resilient hospital and generic-drug consumption supporting the floor.
Feedstock availability for cephalosporanic acid intermediate and thiophene-based acyl side chain is a central driver of cefalotin pricing, since tighter availability in China and India, the principal producing countries, can firm spot offers, while improved utilisation there tends to ease them. Regulatory compliance and quality-assurance costs structurally support European prices alongside energy-linked conversion costs. In North America, prices generally track import parity, anchored by steady institutional demand from hospital formularies and generic-drug manufacturers.
China and India are the principal producing and exporting countries for cefalotin API, anchoring Asian supply, with South Korea, Europe, and North America as key consuming markets; European buyers pay a premium on compliance and energy-linked conversion costs. As an older, largely off-patent cephalosporin, cefalotin API is supplied mainly by generic manufacturers rather than large branded pharmaceutical companies, including Chinese and Indian producers such as Hainan Haiyao Co., Ltd. Production concentration in China and India creates meaningful supply-chain concentration risk for importing regions.
Cefalotin is produced from two key feedstocks: 7-ACA (7-aminocephalosporanic acid) and 2-TAC (2-thienylacetyl chloride). In the production route, 2-TAC is added to a suspension of 7-ACA to drive an acylation reaction. The resulting cefalotin is then crystallized from solution using sodium acetate, followed by recrystallization under aseptic conditions to meet injectable-grade purity. The finished product is supplied as cefalotin sodium, a white crystalline powder used primarily for surgical prophylaxis and as an intermediate in cefoxitin synthesis.
Cefalotin demand is driven primarily by hospital antibacterial therapy, where it treats severe bacterial infections including respiratory, genitourinary, skin and soft tissue, gastrointestinal, bone and joint infections, septicemia, and endocarditis. Its role in perioperative prophylaxis for contaminated surgical wounds, arthroplasty, and open-heart surgery with prostheses further elevates institutional consumption. Generic-drug manufacturers also sustain pull through affordable formulations. Rising bacterial infection rates and expanding surgical volumes across the pharmaceutical and medical industries translate directly into procurement volume and firm pricing pressure.
China and India anchor most global cefalotin API supply, and their combined output level directly governs spot pricing tone. When utilisation and feedstock availability improve in these two countries, spot offers soften and lead times compress, giving buyers negotiating room. Conversely, any regulatory clampdown, export restriction, or production disruption there would tighten global availability, push freight and import-parity prices higher, and shift bargaining power sharply back to sellers - leaving North American and European buyers exposed to sudden cost spikes and extended delivery windows.
Procurement Resource assesses cefalotin prices through a structured, data-driven methodology combining primary engagement with producers, suppliers and traders, secondary market data, monitoring of feedstock and input costs, trade-flow and inventory tracking, and exchange or spot benchmarks. All inputs are validated and translated into a transparent price assessment and outlook. The detailed methodology is available on the Procurement Resource website.

Our Price Analysis Methodology

About the Author

Pragati Agarwal profile photo

Pragati Agarwal

Senior Business Insights Analyst

Delivering price trend analysis and procurement market insights at Procurement Resource, with expertise in identifying commodity patterns, supporting purchasing strategies, and improving cost efficiency through actionable market intelligence.

Schedule Demo

Schedule A Demo

Experience how Procurement Resource transforms raw material price data into clear, decision ready intelligence. Optimise your performance with reliable, expert market data and analysis. Schedule your demo today to experience a live walk-through where our experts will showcase interactive price charts, forecasted prices, and insights driving the prices for your key commodities, tailored to your workflows. Contact us now!

Our Team will be happy to assist you

We are just a text away

+1

Still Need Help?

Europe & Africa

+44 7573 171117

[email protected]

USA & Canada

+1 307 363 1045

[email protected]

APAC

+91 8850629517

[email protected]

Unlock full access to Procurement Resource's price databases, interactive charts, and short-term forecasts for thousands of commodities. Elevate your sourcing decisions by comparing prices across regions, downloading historical data, and layering in analyst-backed insights, all with our flexible plans that scale as your portfolio grows.

Still have any Questions

Contact Us
Mastercard
Wire
VISA
Stripe

Why Procurement Database

Commodity Market Intelligence

Commodity Market Intelligence

Track prices, market movements, supply-demand dynamics, and industry developments across hundreds of commodities through a centralized intelligence platform built for informed procurement decisions.

Price Forecasts & Market Outlooks

Price Forecasts & Market Outlooks

Understand market fluctuations using analyst-backed forecasts, historical pricing patterns, and evolving industry trends to strengthen sourcing strategies and budget planning.

Cost & Procurement Optimization

Cost & Procurement Optimization

Leverage cost models, pricing benchmarks, and procurement insights to evaluate purchasing opportunities, improve negotiations, and enhance operational efficiency.

Global & Regional Market Insights

Global & Regional Market Insights

Access region-specific price trends, trade activities, capacity changes, and supply chain developments influencing commodity markets worldwide.

1/4