Over the past several months, the global supply of raw materials used in pharmaceutical production has faced significant disruptions. Many manufacturing plants, particularly in key regions like Asia, have either paused or reduced production. At the same time, customs controls and import regulations have become much stricter, further delaying or blocking shipments.
As a result, distributors are struggling to meet demand. Some are being vague or avoiding full transparency with their clients. Here's why:
- They want to maintain trust and avoid panic. Admitting there is no clear timeline for product availability could push clients to look elsewhere.
- They are protecting their supplier network. Sharing too much information might allow competitors to take advantage.
- They don’t always have clear answers themselves. The situation is evolving, and many factors are out of their control.
Unfortunately, some less ethical distributors are responding in dishonest ways:
- Selling low-quality or adulterated products, sometimes mislabeled to appear as trusted compounds.
- Taking orders without real stock, hoping they can find supply later.
- Offering weaker or diluted finished oils to maintain appearances while maximizing profit.
Even suppliers of finished oils are hiding the full picture, possibly to prevent clients from worrying about long-term availability or to avoid price negotiations under stress.
Make no mistake: in today’s UGL market, there’s hardly anyone left with a shred of professionalism. Chinese suppliers have become masters of deception, and European distributors are following the same path. Even previously serious distributors are now adopting the same unprofessional practices—misleading their clients, whether by action or by omission.
