According to a new report from Research and Markets, "China Blood Product Industry Report, 2006-2007", China's blood product sector is about to see a fast and steady growth due to: 1) the increasing population, 2) high incidence rate of malignant disease and growing national economy, and 3) blood product market demands are expected to remain growing at 15% annually.

China has stopped approving new blood product enterprises since 2001, which together with imports limit creates a relatively stable competition environment, the report said.

Since the state started regulating plasma collection stations in 2004, plasma volume collected has been sliding, to 3,000 tons in 2005 and 2006. As plasma collection stations finished the restructuring, the plasma volume collected has been gradually increasing but plasma supply still falls short presently. The supply and demand are expected to come to a balance by 2008.

Plasma price keeps growing steadily even after plasma collection stations are restructured, which is because, on the one hand, plasma supply is gradually coming back but still in short; on the other hand, plasma price is quite transparent and even if the cost is added under the counter, it can be seen on the final price.

China still can't meet the demands for plasma during 2006-2008 periods, and as a result, human serum albumin price will keep high during 2007-2008 periods, according to the new report.

Leading enterprises have fostered strong competitive advantages from upstream -quantity, quality and management of plasma collection stations to downstream products' R & D, production and distribution. Two to three nationwide leaders and five to six regional leaders in the Chinese blood product sector are expected to emerge in the future while those small weak enterprises will be phased out.