Consumer Insights
Uncover trends and behaviors shaping consumer choices today
Procurement Insights
Optimize your sourcing strategy with key market data
Industry Stats
Stay ahead with the latest trends and market analysis.
The US paid the most for luliconazole in Q2 2026: USD 663/KG, up 1.7% from USD 652 in Q1. The steady dermatology-formulation demand kept things firm there. Worldwide, the average moved up 1.7%, to USD 546/KG from USD 537, largely because the imidazole intermediate feedstock costs kept climbing across every region we track. What about H2 2026? We'd expect a global average somewhere in the USD 540-585/KG range, with the steady antifungal-formulation demand doing most of the work overall.
Luliconazole is synthesized from an imidazole intermediate combined with a dichlorophenyl-based building block, producing a topical antifungal active pharmaceutical ingredient developed and first commercialized in Japan before expanding into other major pharmaceutical markets. It feeds cream and solution formulations used to treat fungal skin infections, valued clinically for its potency and relatively short treatment courses compared to some older antifungal agents. Three things move the price more than anything else: the imidazole intermediate feedstock costs, the dermatology-formulation demand tied to prescribing volumes, and how much specialized API production capacity the producers are running.
Japan's originating role in this molecule's development deserves some explanation, since it's shaped where specialized production expertise has concentrated. Because luliconazole was first developed and commercialized by Japanese pharmaceutical companies, the country retains some of the most established manufacturing know-how for this particular chemistry, which is part of why Japanese pricing tends to run at a premium reflecting that specialized production heritage even as generic manufacturing has since expanded to other markets. Buyers new to this market sometimes underestimate how much that structural detail matters until they see it play out in the pricing data over a full cycle, which is exactly why we've made a point of covering it here in detail.
The topical-antifungal demand segment deserves a mention too, since it ties this market's overall consumption to dermatology prescribing patterns specifically, a somewhat different demand driver than the oral antifungal and systemic antibiotic markets that dominate several other pharmaceutical intermediates in this pipeline. That dermatology-specific focus has kept demand fairly steady, tracking routine skin-infection treatment rates rather than the more acute, hospital-driven demand that shapes some other API markets. That distinction is worth keeping in mind for anyone comparing this market to more conventional pharmaceutical intermediates.
Supply and demand should stay moderately tight through H2 2026, with the imidazole intermediate feedstock costs doing most of the work on pricing. Japan and the US both kept the dermatology-formulation demand steady through H1, and that's likely to continue. India's formulation sector kept the demand building, while China's large API base kept it the most affordable of the four. None of the four markets we track is showing signs of genuine disruption heading into the back half of the year. None of the four markets we track is showing signs of genuine disruption heading into the back half of the year.
Buyers should keep an eye on the specialized imidazole-intermediate supply chain specifically, since this chemistry requires more processing steps than a simpler generic API, which has kept production concentrated among a relatively small number of experienced manufacturers. That's worth building into any longer-range planning rather than assuming current conditions will simply persist unchanged.
The dermatology-prescribing demand cycle bears watching too, since it tracks routine skin-infection treatment volumes rather than the more acute demand patterns that shape hospital-focused antimicrobial markets.
What could push prices higher? An imidazole intermediate feedstock spike, or a stronger-than-expected dermatology-formulation demand surge across the major markets. What could pull them lower? Expanded low-cost Chinese or Indian API capacity outpacing the demand.
| Region | 2026 Price Range (USD/KG) | Outlook |
| Global Average | 540 - 585 | Steady antifungal-formulation demand support |
| China | 445 - 483 | Large API base keeps China most affordable |
| India | 486 - 527 | Established formulation demand |
| Japan | 610 - 662 | Established origination expertise commands premium |
| United States | 655 - 710 | Steady dermatology demand drives premium |
China's luliconazole producers passed through the firmer feedstock costs this quarter, and the domestic formulation demand held steady. The gain came to 1.8%, USD 443/KG to USD 451. That kept China comfortably the most affordable of the four markets.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q2 2026 in China?
The imidazole intermediate feedstock costs firmed through the quarter, and the domestic formulation demand held its ground right alongside that.
India climbed 1.7% to USD 491/KG, the formulation demand continuing to build through the period.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q2 2026 in India?
The formulation demand kept building, and that alone explains most of the move here.
Japan gained 1.6% to USD 618/KG, the established origination expertise keeping the demand firm through the period.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q2 2026 in Japan?
Japan's premium held for the usual reason: established production expertise backed by firming feedstock costs.
USD 663/KG. That's where the US landed in Q2, up 1.7% from USD 652 in Q1. The dermatology demand stayed steady, and the feedstock costs climbed just enough to push things higher.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q2 2026 in United States?
The dermatology demand didn't move much, honestly. It was the imidazole intermediate feedstock costs doing most of the work this quarter.
China gained 1.8% to USD 443/KG, the demand firming as the year opened.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q1 2026 in China?
The domestic formulation demand firmed as the year opened, and the imidazole intermediate feedstock costs edged higher right alongside it.
Indian luliconazole rose 1.7% to USD 483/KG, the formulation demand firming with the new year.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q1 2026 in India?
The formulation demand firmed with the new year, and the feedstock costs kept climbing steadily too.
Japanese luliconazole climbed 1.7% to USD 608/KG, the dermatology demand staying firm through the quarter.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q1 2026 in Japan?
The dermatology demand stayed firm, and the feedstock costs firmed alongside it.
US luliconazole rose 1.7% to USD 652/KG, the dermatology-formulation demand building through the quarter.
Why did the price of Luliconazole change in Q1 2026 in United States?
The dermatology-formulation demand built through the quarter, tracking the prescribing activity closely.
The global average climbed steadily across the window, from USD 510/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 546 by Q2 2026, a net gain of about 7.1%. Every quarter posted a gain here, reflecting the firming imidazole intermediate feedstock costs and the steady dermatology-formulation demand across every market we track, with the pace of the gains staying fairly consistent across the entire window. That kind of steady, uninterrupted climb is worth noting, since it stands in contrast to how choppy some other commodities in this space have looked over the same period.
| Quarter | Price (USD/KG) | QoQ Change | Direction |
| Q2 2026 | 546 | +1.7% | ↑ Rising |
| Q1 2026 | 537 | +1.7% | ↑ Rising |
| Q4 2025 | 528 | +1.1% | ↑ Rising |
| Q3 2025 | 522 | +1.2% | ↑ Rising |
| Q2 2025 | 516 | +1.2% | ↑ Rising |
| Q1 2025 | 510 | - | - Stable |
| Q3 2026 | In Progress | - | - In Progress |
2025 was a steady year for luliconazole. Starting near USD 510/KG in Q1, the global average finished 2025 at USD 528, a gain of about 3.5%. The dermatology-formulation demand held consistent all year across every market we track, before the pace of gains stayed just as strong once 2026 got underway. The consistency of that pattern across all four regions makes this one of the more predictable specialty-dermatology pharmaceutical markets we track. Buyers who track this market closely tend to view that steady annual pattern as the baseline against which any future quarter's move should be judged.
Chinese prices moved from about USD 420/KG in Q1 2025 to USD 435 by Q4, up roughly 3.6%. The domestic demand held steady all year, and China stayed the most affordable of the four markets throughout.
Indian prices climbed from USD 460/KG in Q1 to USD 475 by Q4, a 3.3% gain, tracking the steady formulation demand.
Japanese prices rose from USD 580/KG in Q1 to USD 598 by Q4, up 3.1%, as the established origination expertise kept demand firm through the year.
US prices moved from USD 620/KG in Q1 to USD 641 by Q4, a 3.4% gain, the highest absolute price throughout the four markets on the steady dermatology demand.
Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Luliconazole Price Intelligence
We keep a continuous eye on the luliconazole prices wherever it's produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through the imidazole intermediate feedstock economics, the dermatology-formulation demand, and the specialized production capacity utilization. Our analysts track the concentrated pool of experienced manufacturers closely, given how much specialized chemistry knowledge this particular API requires. We also flag any material shift in the underlying feedstock or trade-logistics conditions as soon as it becomes apparent. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
It feeds cream and solution formulations used to treat fungal skin infections, valued clinically for its potency and relatively short treatment courses compared to some older antifungal agents.
In Q2 2026, it averaged USD 451/KG in China, USD 491/KG in India, USD 618/KG in Japan, and USD 663/KG in the US, still the priciest market thanks to the steady dermatology demand.
The global average climbed from USD 528/KG in Q4 2025 to USD 537 in Q1 2026, then on to USD 546 in Q2, up 3.4% across the half.
The imidazole intermediate feedstock costs firmed across every region, while the dermatology-formulation demand held steady to strong across every market tracked.
We're expecting a global average somewhere in the USD 540-585/KG range, supported by the steady antifungal-formulation demand.
The US carries the firmest premium on steady dermatology demand. Japan sits close behind on its established origination expertise. China prices lowest on its large API production base.
The imidazole intermediate feedstock costs matter most, followed by the dermatology-formulation demand and the specialized production capacity utilization.
China and India together account for the large majority of global API production, while Japan retains established manufacturing expertise tied to the molecule's original development there.
Monthly, though our analysts flag any material shift in feedstock or dermatology-demand conditions between scheduled updates, so buyers are never working from stale figures. We also track how buyers in adjacent markets are adjusting their sourcing strategies.
The quarterly trends and forecasts help time dermatology-linked purchasing around the imidazole intermediate feedstock cycles. Tracking the concentrated pool of experienced manufacturers can help buyers anticipate supply-driven price moves. Building that habit into a quarterly procurement review tends to pay off more consistently than reacting to price moves after they have already happened.
One Year Subscription
One Year Subscription
USD 799
USD 699
tax inclusive*
*Please note that the prices mentioned below are starting prices for each bundle type. Kindly contact our team for further details.*
Flash Bundle
Small Business Bundle
Growth Bundle
Enterprise Bundle
*Please note that the prices mentioned below are starting prices for each bundle type. Kindly contact our team for further details.*
Flash Bundle
Number of Reports: 3
20%
tax inclusive*
Small Business Bundle
Number of Reports: 5
25%
tax inclusive*
Growth Bundle
Number of Reports: 8
30%
tax inclusive*
Enterprise Bundle
Number of Reports: 10
35%
tax inclusive*
How To Order
Select License Type
Choose the right license for your needs and access rights.
Click on ‘Buy Now’
Add the report to your cart with one click and proceed to register.
Select Mode of Payment
Choose a payment option for a secure checkout. You will be redirected accordingly.
Strategic Solutions for Informed Decision-Making
Gain insights to stay ahead and seize opportunities.
Get insights & trends for a competitive edge.
Track prices with detailed trend reports.
Analyse trade data for supply chain insights.
Leverage cost reports for smart savings
Enhance supply chain with partnerships.
Connect For More Information
Our expert team of analysts will offer full support and resolve any queries regarding the report, before and after the purchase.
Our expert team of analysts will offer full support and resolve any queries regarding the report, before and after the purchase.
We employ meticulous research methods, blending advanced analytics and expert insights to deliver accurate, actionable industry intelligence, staying ahead of competitors.
Our skilled analysts offer unparalleled competitive advantage with detailed insights on current and emerging markets, ensuring your strategic edge.
We offer an in-depth yet simplified presentation of industry insights and analysis to meet your specific requirements effectively.