India’s Dolutegravir market softened in January as buyer resistance around tender timing and normalized logistics trimmed upward pressure. Container availability returned to normal after the lull, reducing freight surcharges, while Chinese suppliers kept offers for key fluorinated intermediates flat. Mid-January buying was subdued as donors waited between tenders and manufacturers drew on contracted volumes; by late January, exporters offered marginal discounts. The net tone was bearish, driven by comfortable inventories at formulation units and limited urgency among bulk institutional buyers ahead of a Global Fund tender in February. Demand patterns were mixed across end-users, leaving prices lower on the month. Institutional and donor procurement remained weak as bulk purchasers awaited the Global Fund antiretroviral tender, while export-oriented ARV formulation manufacturers pulled contracted January volumes rather than adding spot lots. Private hospital procurement stayed steady, and domestic public-sector call-offs were limited after NACO fulfilled its annual requirement. Looking ahead, the continued decline is expected, with gradual stabilization as tender cycles and logistics normalize.
