APAC Vaccine Powerhouses Flex Capacity & Quality Muscle

Asia is the epicentre of global vaccine manufacturing, with India and China together supplying over a billion doses annually. Now, emerging players like South Korea, Singapore, and Australia are stepping up, investing in next-gen platforms and expanding capacity to meet global demand. Let's map the manufacturing footprint of Asia's leading vaccine manufacturers, tracking their current capacity, expansion plans, and the strategic shifts that are transforming the region into a global vaccine production hub.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

Asia-Pacific is driving a transformation in the global vaccine supply landscape. According to the WHO Vaccine Report 2024, the WHO South-East Asia region now self-supplies 87 per cent of its vaccines—thanks largely to India, which accounts for 84 per cent of the doses procured in the region and produces 99 per cent of its requirements. Similarly, in the Western Pacific region, China supplies 54 per cent of vaccines and meets 90 per cent of its domestic demand. Manufacturers affiliated with the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) accounted for 54 per cent of global vaccine volumes sold in 2023, further emphasising the role of emerging economies in shaping vaccine access. Together, these two countries are not only meeting regional needs but are scaling up rapidly, with production capacities growing by 15—20 per cent annually. At the same time, Asia as a whole manufacturing base is broadening. The number of companies producing between 10 and 100 million doses annually has jumped from 28 in 2019 to 42 in 2023, with half of this growth coming from China.

While India and China remain the undisputed leaders in vaccine manufacturing, other countries in the Asia-Pacific region are stepping up. South Korea has carved out an impressive niche playing a key role in the global COVAX initiative by supplying vaccines to lower-income countries. Japan and Singapore have focused on high-value, specialised vaccines, with Japanese manufacturers particularly strong in regulated markets like North America and Europe. APAC has a diverse manufacturing ecosystem, while private companies dominate in India and China, government-run manufacturers play a vital role in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.