ABA Chem, one of the major companies located in the Taicang Port Development Zone, recently acquired Amino Chemicals, a European manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients, to boost its presence in the biomedical sector.

The Port of Taicang seen at night. [Photo provided to China Daily]

According to statistics provided by the Taicang municipal bureau of commerce, ABA spent 177.96 million yuan ($25.95 million) on the acquisition, the largest ever in Taicang's chemicals field.

ABA is a listed developer and producer of drugs, APIs, agrochemicals and intermediates. It has experienced rapid nationwide growth and recognition since it was founded in 2006, and now seeks international expansion. ABA wanted to further ties with Amino especially in the profitable APIs and hoped to add 22 million dollars to its export value by signing with Amino Chemicals.

As an added benefit, the acquisition will give a great impetus to restructuring and upgrading the Port of Taicang, which is a significant satellite port connected to Shanghai’s Yangshan megaport situated on the south bank of the Yangtze River estuary near Shanghai .

Amino Chemicals, part of the Dipharma Group, is situated on the island of Malta, just south of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. It is involved in chemical process development and new generic APIs. Its facilities have been inspected and approved by the United States Food and Drugs Administration.

The production base of ABA Chem in Taicang Port Development Zone is the group’s manufacturing center while the admin center is in Shanghai. [Photo provided to China Daily]