One kilogram sells for 1.2 million! These drugs have been affected, and the price of natural bezoar has skyrocketed

Recently, natural bezoar has welcomed a "bull market". Red Star Capital Bureau has learned from multiple merchants that compared to the price of around 500000 to 600000 yuan per kilogram in 2022, its price has doubled to 1.2 million yuan per kilogram so far. "Natural bezoar itself is a scarce product, and price increases are normal," said a merchant.

Amidst the price increase in the entire raw material market, high-end bovine bezoar products represented by Pian Zaihuang also recently issued price increase notices. In May this year, Pian Zihuang announced that the retail price of tablets in the domestic market had increased by about 170 yuan/tablet to 760 yuan/tablet, the highest increase in history. At the same time, some analysts suggest that the next price increase after the use of bezoar may be the Angong Niuhuang Pill, which is also made from bezoar.

Red Star Capital Bureau has learned that the price increase of natural yellow cattle may be related to hoarding by enterprises. Some merchants who have been supplying to enterprises for a long time have stated that as more and more enterprises participate in the production of natural yellow products, the demand for natural yellow is also increasing. Some enterprises hoarding yellow in advance has also contributed to the rise in raw material and product prices.

Whole natural bezoar, according to the merchant's image

The price of natural bezoar suddenly skyrocketed

Up to 1.2 million yuan per kilogram

Natural bezoar is experiencing a wave of price increases.

Recently, according to multiple media reports, the price of natural bezoar per kilogram has exceeded one million. "More expensive than gold" is not only a measure of the market's value of natural bezoar, but also a dynamic comparison of its soaring price.

On June 2nd, a natural bezoar merchant from Bozhou, Anhui told the Red Star Capital Bureau that the price of natural bezoar varies from 600000 to 800000 yuan per kilogram depending on its quality. The price of natural bezoar with accompanying testing reports is higher, exceeding 1 million yuan. "Last year's wholesale price was still around 450000 yuan," the merchant said.

Red Star Capital Bureau has learned from multiple merchants that the price increase of natural bezoar is not an exception, and almost the entire raw material market is experiencing price increases.

When the Red Star Capital Bureau requested to purchase a small amount of natural bezoar as an individual consumer, some merchants bluntly stated, "Natural bezoar weighs 110 million kilograms, which is 115 million kilograms for retail. Natural bezoar itself is a scarce product, and price increases are normal."

Some merchants who have been engaged in the sale of natural bezoar for a long time claim that seven or eight years ago, when the demand for natural bezoar was still small, the price of one kilogram was less than 200000 yuan. Even in 2022, 500000 yuan can win one kilogram of natural bezoar. Currently, in just about the past six months, according to its understanding, the price of high-quality natural bezoar has soared to 1.2 million yuan per kilogram, doubling.

The sudden and rapid price increase of natural bezoar is also reflected in various Chinese herbal medicine data analysis websites.

According to Kangmei Traditional Chinese Medicine website, the price increase of natural bezoar has not been significant since 2020. From the published prices, the price of natural bezoar per kilogram in the second half of 2022 is 580000 yuan, an increase of 180000 yuan compared to 2020. But in 2023, the price of natural bezoar per kilogram skyrocketed to 800000 yuan since April, an increase of 150000 yuan from the beginning of the year and a doubling from 2020.

If divided into the five major medicinal herb markets in China, the price in the Puning market in Guangdong Province is the highest, reaching 820000 yuan. The remaining four medicinal herb markets in Bozhou, Anguo, Chengdu, and Lianqiao are all priced at 800000 yuan.

According to Kangmei Traditional Chinese Medicine Network

According to monitoring data from the Chinese Medicine World Network, the price increase of natural bezoar per kilogram is roughly the same as the above situation, rising from less than 600000 yuan in 2022 to 800000 yuan in 2023.

Pian Zihuang has taken the lead in raising prices

Next turn is Angong Niuhuang Wan?

The price increase of natural cattle raw materials has also been transmitted to the terminal commodity market.

On the evening of May 5th, Pianzihuang announced a price increase for its leading product, Pianzihuang. The domestic retail price of tablets will be raised from 590 yuan/tablet to 760 yuan/tablet, and the supply price will be correspondingly increased by about 170 yuan/tablet. Although there have been multiple price hikes by Pien Tze Huang in the past, this is the largest increase in history.

Pian Zihuang Experience Hall

Pian Zihuang said that the reason for the price increase is due to the increase in the cost of main raw materials and labor. Although the main types of raw materials for the price increase have not been clearly identified, some insights can be gleaned from the information disclosed by Pian Zihuang in the past.

According to the introduction on the official website of Pienz Huang, the prescription and technology of Pienz Huang have been listed as a state secret and have never been disclosed so far, and have been listed as a national first-class protected variety of traditional Chinese medicine, which is the highest level of protection of traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations in China. Therefore, in the ingredient column, only four main medicinal herbs are listed: musk, bezoar, snake bile, and Panax notoginseng.

However, it should be pointed out that musk and snake bile require administrative permission from the national forestry department and procurement must be strictly organized in accordance with relevant national regulations. According to Pian Zihuang, except for musk and snake bile, other Chinese medicinal materials are purchased through market channels, and the purchase prices are subject to market conditions.

In other words, among the four main medicinal herbs announced by Pian Zihuang, the price fluctuations of Niuhuang and Sanqi are greatly influenced by the market.

Regarding this, Pian Zihuang pointed out in his 2022 annual report that during the reporting period, the prices of Panax notoginseng of the same specifications slightly decreased. However, the price of bezoar is showing a continuous upward trend, and it is said that the price of bezoar is easily affected by the supply from the production area and market demand. The company actively prepares strategic reserves for bezoar resources.

According to a report from First Financial, staff members related to Pian Zaihuang have previously stated that it is the increase in the price of natural bezoar that has led to an increase in the company's costs, and this increase in the price of Pian Zaihuang tablets is to cope with the increase in the main raw material and labor costs.

The price of "Yaomao" Pian Zaihuang has risen ahead of others. Analysis and reports have pointed out that the main ingredient of Angong Niuhuang Pill is also Niuhuang, and its price may also be about to rise. However, against the backdrop of this wave of natural bezoar price hikes, as of now, no production company of Angong bezoar pills has announced a price increase notice.

Who is hyping up?

Consumers blindly take medication, and some pharmaceutical companies hoard it in advance

In fact, the Red Star Capital Bureau previously reported that the so-called "liver protecting miracle medicine" of Pian Zaihuang experienced a blow in 2022, with its second-hand price dropping from 1600 yuan to 400 yuan and no longer being "hard to find". So, who is the "behind the scenes" behind the rise in natural bezoar prices that has driven up the price of bezoar products?

On June 2nd, a natural bezoar merchant with a customer base mainly targeting general consumers told Red Star Capital Bureau, "After the end of 2022 epidemic, there were rumors that Angong bezoar pills were 'life-saving pills' for basic patients such as lung and heart diseases. At that time, many elderly people and those with basic diseases in our area came to stock up."

According to multiple merchants, most consumers tend to overlook the quality of natural bezoar and consider its price. However, the value of natural bezoar varies depending on the whole, powdered, or small particles. In most cases, the price of whole natural bezoar is higher than that of "crushed". However, some sellers have also expressed, "You can't compare anything by looking at it. You can give you whatever price you want."

Public information shows that natural bezoar is a dry gallstone of cattle in the family Bovidae, which is extremely rare and can only produce 3-4 kilograms per 100 cows. The cattle that produce natural bezoar are mainly aged over 5 years old, but in fact, many cows are already out of the market before being raised for 5 years. According to the Beijing Daily, the annual output of natural bezoar in China is less than 1000 kg, while the demand for bezoar in traditional precious traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations is about 5000 kg.

Another enterprise oriented merchant has revealed to the Red Star Capital Bureau that more and more companies are participating in the production of bovine bezoar products. Some companies have hoarded bovine bezoar in advance, which has also contributed to the increase in raw material and product prices. "There are more people involved now, and the prices have also risen."

Unlike the exclusive variety of Pianzaihuang, there are many domestic production enterprises of Angong Niuhuang Wan. According to the official website of the National Medical Products Administration, as of now, there are 125 approval numbers involved in the production of domestically produced Angong Niuhuang Pills, involving well-known enterprises such as Tongrentang, Guangyuyuan, Jiuzhitang, and Tianshili.

In addition, Red Star Capital Bureau noticed that on April 15th, Step by Step Pharmaceutical announced its intention to acquire the production technology of Angong Niuhuang Pills owned by Liaoning Hancaotang for 8.4 million yuan; On May 12th, Jingxin Pharmaceutical responded to investors on the Interactive Easy platform that the company has recently resumed production of Angong Niuhuang Pills

There are more and more enterprises producing bezoar products, but the production of natural bezoar has not been improved. Upstream raw material suppliers and enterprises holding resources may also play an important role in this round of price increases.

Red Star News reporter Deng Lingyao