People likely to face shortages of medicine for diabites, antibiotics and ulcers due to over export of Sulfur

Potential long-term shortage of medicines for Diabetes, Antibiotics, and Peptic Ulcers

Chemical and Pharmaceutical industry products disrupted: Sulfur prices increased by 195% in eight months, rising from ₹36,000 to ₹1.04 lakh; Monthly shortage of 3 lakh tons

Since March, the indiscriminate export of sulfur and sulfuric acid by major Indian industries has caused pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing in Gujarat and across India to come to a standstill today. The chemical market is facing difficulties in producing dyes, while the pharmaceutical market is struggling to manufacture essential medicines, including those for diabetes. On the other hand, sulfur prices have surged from ₹36,000 per ton to ₹1.04 lakh over the last eight months. Due to the unchecked rise in the prices of sulfur and sulfuric acid, the fear of a shortage of chemical fertilizers, chemicals, and pharmaceutical products in India has intensified.

There is also a possibility that the production of thousands of antibiotics manufactured in the country may be halted or significantly reduced. Consequently, industries are demanding that the government immediately implement controls on these exports. According to Shailesh Patwari, an expert in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, if concrete steps are not taken by the government, a long-term shortage of medicines for diabetes, antibiotics, and peptic ulcers could arise.

Experts state that if the government does not take steps to reduce the export of sulfur and sulfuric acid, the coming days are likely to become difficult for the pharmaceutical, chemical, and chemical fertilizer industries. Medicines, intermediates, and value-added products like chemical fertilizers are prepared from sulfur and sulfuric acid. Indian manufacturers have lost the opportunity to earn revenue by preparing these value-added products. Sulfuric acid is used to make every type of life-saving drug. Now, a monthly shortage of 3 lakh tons has emerged. Sulfuric acid is also used in the manufacturing of every intermediate.

As the raw materials required by industries are being exported, production in domestic industries has slowed down and begun to shut down. Consequently, the problem of unemployment is looming large, ready to consume many jobs. Due to the shortage of sulfuric acid, chemical factories have started closing, causing workers to lose their jobs. Sulfuric acid is required to manufacture all types of intermediates from chemicals.