Artemisinin Market latest Statistics on Market Size, Growth, Production, Sales Volume, Sales Price, Market Share and Import vs Export 

Artemisinin Market Summary Highlights

The Artemisinin Market is entering a structurally important phase as global malaria-control programs intensify pharmaceutical procurement and diversify active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) sourcing strategies. Demand growth remains strongly tied to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which continue to represent the frontline treatment protocol for uncomplicated malaria across endemic regions in Africa and parts of Asia-Pacific. Expansion in biologically derived therapeutics, improved extraction efficiency from Artemisia annua, and strategic investments in semi-synthetic artemisinin production are reshaping industry economics through 2030.

Supply-side dynamics remain volatile because artemisinin crop yields are highly sensitive to climate conditions, agricultural acreage cycles, and phytochemical concentration variability. While long-term demand fundamentals remain favorable, periodic oversupply conditions and fluctuations in leaf biomass pricing continue to pressure margins for upstream cultivators and extractors. Governments and international procurement agencies are increasingly prioritizing localized manufacturing resilience after repeated disruptions in global pharmaceutical ingredient logistics.

China and Vietnam continue to dominate commercial cultivation and extraction capacity, although African nations are gradually increasing regional processing initiatives to reduce dependence on imported antimalarial ingredients. Technological advancements in microbial biosynthesis and continuous extraction systems are also influencing competitive positioning among manufacturers.

Key Statistical Highlights

• The global Artemisinin Market is projected to reach approximately USD 980 million–USD 1.05 billion by 2030, expanding at a forecast CAGR of 7.2%–8.1% between 2026 and 2030.
• Artemisinin-based combination therapies are estimated to account for nearly 74% of total artemisinin consumption volume in 2026, supported by sustained malaria treatment demand.
• More than 260 million malaria cases globally are expected to be recorded in 2026, maintaining strong procurement momentum for ACT drugs across endemic economies.
• Africa is projected to represent over 68% of global ACT procurement expenditure in 2026 due to persistent malaria burden and donor-funded healthcare programs.
• China is expected to contribute approximately 55%–60% of global artemisinin extraction output in 2026, maintaining leadership in cultivation and downstream processing.
• Semi-synthetic artemisinin production capacity is forecast to expand by over 35% between 2026 and 2029, improving supply-chain stability during agricultural shortfalls.
• Pharmaceutical-grade artemisinin API prices are anticipated to fluctuate within a range of USD 280–USD 420 per kilogram during 2026, depending on crop cycles and extraction yields.
• Global cultivation acreage for Artemisia annua is projected to increase by nearly 11% by 2028, particularly across East Africa and Southeast Asia.
• WHO-supported malaria elimination funding programs are expected to exceed USD 5.5 billion annually by 2027, indirectly supporting long-term Artemisinin Market expansion.
• Injectable artesunate demand is projected to grow at a CAGR above 9% through 2030, driven by increasing adoption in severe malaria treatment protocols.
• Biotechnology-enabled production methods could contribute nearly 18%–22% of total artemisinin supply by 2030, reducing dependence on seasonal agricultural output.

Rising Global Malaria Burden Sustaining Core Demand

The Artemisinin Market continues to be fundamentally linked to the epidemiological trajectory of malaria infections worldwide. Despite major public health interventions over the past decade, malaria transmission remains persistent across tropical and subtropical economies. Climatic instability, population displacement, insecticide resistance, and healthcare infrastructure gaps are contributing to recurrent infection waves, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization’s forward projections for 2026 indicate that malaria-related treatment procurement volumes will remain elevated as endemic nations continue expanding rapid diagnostic and therapeutic access programs. Countries including Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Mozambique collectively account for a significant share of global ACT consumption, creating stable baseline demand for artemisinin derivatives.

This demand profile is not purely volume-driven. Treatment protocols are also becoming more intensive. Governments are increasing stockpile reserves after supply-chain disruptions exposed vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical sourcing during previous global trade interruptions. As a result, procurement agencies are now placing multi-year framework contracts with API suppliers and formulation manufacturers, strengthening long-term visibility for the Artemisinin Market.

Another important trend involves the expansion of pediatric antimalarial formulations. Child-focused ACT formulations are witnessing accelerated adoption because children under five remain among the highest-risk demographic groups for malaria mortality. This shift is increasing demand for higher-purity artemisinin derivatives suitable for precision dosage manufacturing.

Agricultural Volatility Continues to Influence Pricing Structures

Unlike many synthetic pharmaceutical ingredients, artemisinin remains heavily dependent on agricultural cultivation cycles. The extraction process relies primarily on Artemisia annua leaves, making production economics vulnerable to weather conditions, planting incentives, and crop rotation decisions.

Overproduction cycles have periodically destabilized grower profitability. When artemisinin prices rise sharply, cultivation acreage expands rapidly, often resulting in oversupply within subsequent harvest seasons. Conversely, prolonged low-price periods discourage farmers from planting Artemisia annua, tightening future supply availability. This cyclical imbalance remains one of the defining structural characteristics of the Artemisinin Market.

Climate variability is intensifying these fluctuations. Irregular rainfall patterns across key cultivation zones in China and East Africa are affecting artemisinin concentration levels within harvested biomass. Lower phytochemical yields directly reduce extraction efficiency, increasing production costs for processors.

Manufacturers are responding by investing in controlled cultivation techniques, greenhouse-assisted propagation, and higher-yield seed varieties. Several biotechnology firms are also collaborating with agricultural institutes to improve leaf productivity per hectare while stabilizing artemisinin concentration ratios.

Vertical integration is becoming increasingly common across the industry. Large pharmaceutical ingredient producers are securing dedicated cultivation contracts or directly operating farming assets to reduce raw material uncertainty. This integration strategy is expected to strengthen supply predictability while improving traceability standards demanded by international pharmaceutical buyers.

Expansion of Semi-Synthetic Production Technologies

One of the most transformative developments in the Artemisinin Market involves the commercialization of semi-synthetic and biosynthetic production technologies. Traditional extraction methods remain dominant, but biotechnology-assisted manufacturing is steadily gaining commercial relevance.

Semi-synthetic artemisinin is produced through engineered microbial fermentation processes that generate artemisinic acid, which is subsequently converted into artemisinin derivatives. This production pathway reduces dependence on seasonal crop harvests and offers greater consistency in output quality.

Industrial biotechnology adoption accelerated after repeated volatility in agricultural supply pricing created procurement uncertainty for antimalarial drug manufacturers. Pharmaceutical companies increasingly favor diversified sourcing strategies that combine plant-derived extraction with fermentation-based production models.

The economics of biosynthetic production are also improving. Earlier commercialization phases faced challenges related to scale efficiency and high fermentation costs. However, advances in metabolic engineering, bioreactor optimization, and downstream purification technologies are gradually narrowing the cost differential relative to conventional extraction methods.

This technological transition does not eliminate agricultural demand entirely. Instead, it is creating a hybrid production ecosystem where semi-synthetic manufacturing acts as a balancing mechanism during low-yield harvest cycles. By 2030, biotechnology-assisted production is expected to represent a meaningful supplemental supply source within the broader Artemisinin Market structure.

Injectable Artesunate Segment Showing Accelerated Growth

Among derivative categories, injectable artesunate is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments due to increasing prioritization of severe malaria treatment access. Hospitals and emergency treatment programs are expanding adoption because injectable artesunate demonstrates superior clinical efficacy compared with older quinine-based therapies.

Public health agencies are strengthening distribution networks for severe malaria treatment in remote regions where mortality rates remain elevated. Expanded healthcare access initiatives across Africa and Southeast Asia are therefore increasing institutional procurement volumes for injectable formulations.

At the same time, critical care infrastructure improvements are contributing to higher treatment penetration rates. International funding organizations are supporting cold-chain logistics, emergency medicine storage systems, and healthcare worker training programs that facilitate broader deployment of injectable antimalarial therapies.

This trend is creating downstream benefits for pharmaceutical manufacturers specializing in high-purity artemisinin derivatives. Injectable applications require stringent quality specifications, supporting premium pricing opportunities relative to standard oral formulations.

Regional Manufacturing Diversification Reshaping Supply Chains

China remains the dominant supplier within the Artemisinin Market, but geopolitical risk management and healthcare sovereignty initiatives are encouraging broader regional manufacturing development. African countries with high malaria prevalence are increasingly attempting to localize portions of antimalarial drug production to reduce import dependence.

Governments in East Africa are supporting pharmaceutical industrialization policies through tax incentives, local production mandates, and public-private investment partnerships. These initiatives aim to strengthen regional healthcare resilience while reducing treatment procurement costs over the long term.

India is also expanding its role in downstream ACT formulation manufacturing. The country’s large generic pharmaceutical ecosystem, combined with expanding API processing capabilities, is improving its competitive position in global antimalarial supply chains.

At the same time, international procurement organizations are placing greater emphasis on supplier diversification to minimize disruption risks associated with concentrated production geographies. This strategic shift is expected to gradually redistribute portions of extraction, formulation, and packaging activities across multiple emerging manufacturing hubs.

Geographical Demand Patterns in the Artemisinin Market

The geographical structure of the Artemisinin Market continues to reflect the global malaria burden, healthcare funding intensity, and pharmaceutical manufacturing concentration. Africa remains the dominant consumption hub, while Asia-Pacific controls the majority of cultivation and extraction capacity. Simultaneously, Latin America and parts of the Middle East are witnessing selective growth in antimalarial procurement due to climate-linked disease expansion and increasing healthcare preparedness programs.

Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to account for nearly 70% of global artemisinin derivative demand in 2026. Countries including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to report high malaria transmission intensity, sustaining elevated procurement volumes for artemisinin-based combination therapies. The African Union’s healthcare resilience programs and donor-backed medicine distribution initiatives are strengthening treatment penetration in rural regions where malaria mortality remains structurally high.

Government-led procurement programs remain a decisive demand driver. National malaria control initiatives are increasingly purchasing ACT medicines through long-term contracts to avoid supply disruptions. Expanded diagnostic testing campaigns are also improving treatment accuracy, increasing the volume of confirmed malaria cases receiving artemisinin-based therapies rather than broad-spectrum empirical treatment.

Southeast Asia maintains strategic importance within the Artemisinin Market despite lower disease prevalence relative to Africa. Vietnam and parts of China continue to operate as critical cultivation and extraction centers because of favorable agro-climatic conditions for Artemisia annua. In addition, regional pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasing exports of artemisinin APIs and derivative formulations to African healthcare systems.

India’s role is expanding rapidly in formulation manufacturing and downstream pharmaceutical processing. The country’s generic drug ecosystem, large-scale tablet production infrastructure, and export-oriented pharmaceutical sector are enabling higher participation in ACT manufacturing. Indian pharmaceutical exporters are increasingly supplying pediatric antimalarial formulations, dispersible tablets, and injectable artesunate products to public health procurement agencies.

Latin America represents a comparatively smaller but gradually evolving regional opportunity. Climate change, migration flows, and changing mosquito distribution patterns are contributing to localized increases in malaria surveillance activities across parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. Governments are therefore strengthening antimalarial medicine reserves, indirectly supporting regional expansion of the Artemisinin Market.

Artemisinin Market Segmentation Highlights

By Product Type

• Artemisinin derivatives continue to dominate with more than 65% revenue contribution in 2026.
• Artesunate remains the fastest-growing derivative segment due to rising injectable treatment demand.
• Artemether-lumefantrine combinations account for a substantial share of oral ACT prescriptions globally.
• Dihydroartemisinin demand is increasing in combination therapies targeting drug-resistant malaria strains.

By Application

• Antimalarial therapeutics represent approximately 80% of total Artemisinin Market demand.
• Research applications involving antiviral and oncology-related investigations are gradually expanding.
• Injectable severe malaria treatments are projected to grow above 9% CAGR through 2030.
• Pediatric ACT formulations continue gaining procurement priority across African healthcare systems.

By End User

• Public healthcare procurement agencies dominate industry consumption patterns.
• International humanitarian organizations remain major institutional buyers.
• Hospital pharmacy channels are expanding due to injectable artesunate adoption.
• Retail pharmaceutical demand remains comparatively limited in endemic low-income economies.

By Production Method

• Plant-extracted artemisinin continues to hold the majority market share.
• Semi-synthetic production is forecast to exceed 20% supply contribution by 2030.
• Fermentation-based biosynthesis is attracting biotechnology investment due to supply-chain stability advantages.

Artemisinin Production Landscape and Supply Statistics

Artemisinin production remains heavily concentrated in China and Vietnam, which collectively account for a majority share of global extraction output in 2026. China alone is estimated to contribute approximately 55%–60% of worldwide artemisinin extraction capacity due to established cultivation networks, integrated processing infrastructure, and pharmaceutical-grade purification capabilities. Artemisinin production in Vietnam continues to benefit from government-supported medicinal crop cultivation programs and export-oriented processing facilities. Meanwhile, Artemisinin production in East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania is gradually increasing as pharmaceutical companies diversify sourcing strategies to reduce agricultural concentration risk. Global Artemisia annua cultivation acreage is projected to rise by nearly 11% between 2026 and 2028, although actual artemisinin yield output remains highly dependent on weather conditions and phytochemical concentration levels within harvested leaves. Several biotechnology firms are simultaneously scaling fermentation-based Artemisinin production to stabilize supply availability during poor agricultural harvest seasons.

Asia-Pacific Maintains Production Dominance

The Asia-Pacific region continues to define the supply architecture of the Artemisinin Market. China’s vertically integrated ecosystem provides significant competitive advantages through coordinated farming, extraction, purification, and pharmaceutical conversion capabilities.

Large-scale cultivation clusters in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Yunnan remain critical raw material sources for global artemisinin extraction. Government-supported agricultural modernization initiatives are improving mechanized harvesting efficiency and reducing biomass losses during post-harvest processing.

Vietnam’s pharmaceutical export sector is also strengthening its position through quality-focused manufacturing expansion. Producers are investing in higher-purity extraction systems and solvent recovery technologies to improve pharmaceutical-grade output consistency.

The regional dominance of Asia-Pacific is further reinforced by mature logistics networks connecting extraction facilities with formulation manufacturers across India and other pharmaceutical export hubs.

Demand Diversification Beyond Antimalarial Applications

Although malaria treatment remains the dominant commercial application, the Artemisinin Market is gradually witnessing diversification into broader pharmaceutical research areas. Artemisinin derivatives are increasingly being studied for anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and oncology-related therapeutic potential.

Several oncology research institutions are investigating artemisinin compounds for selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells because of their iron-reactive molecular properties. While commercialization remains limited, clinical research investment is contributing to rising pharmaceutical interest in high-purity derivative production.

Antiviral exploration also gained momentum after multiple academic institutions evaluated artemisinin-based compounds for broader infectious disease applications. These exploratory initiatives are not yet materially transforming total market volume but are contributing to long-term strategic diversification opportunities.

Biopharmaceutical firms are therefore increasing investments in advanced derivative engineering, intellectual property development, and precision purification technologies that could support higher-margin specialty pharmaceutical applications in the future.

Artemisinin Price Dynamics Reshaping Industry Economics

The Artemisinin Price environment remains structurally volatile because of the industry’s dependence on agricultural output cycles. Unlike fully synthetic APIs with predictable production scalability, artemisinin extraction economics fluctuate significantly depending on cultivation acreage, weather conditions, phytochemical yields, and procurement timing.

In 2026, Artemisinin Price levels are expected to remain within a broad range of approximately USD 280–USD 420 per kilogram for pharmaceutical-grade material. Variability is being amplified by changing crop planting incentives across China and East Africa.

Periods of elevated ACT procurement often trigger aggressive cultivation expansion. However, excessive planting typically creates oversupply conditions during subsequent harvest cycles, pushing Artemisinin Price Trend patterns downward and compressing grower profitability. Reduced farmer participation in following seasons can then tighten supply availability and trigger renewed pricing spikes.

This cyclical imbalance continues to challenge long-term supply planning across the Artemisinin Market.

Artemisinin Price Trend Influenced by Climate and Procurement Cycles

The Artemisinin Price Trend is increasingly influenced by climate-related agricultural disruptions. Extreme rainfall variability, drought conditions, and temperature fluctuations are affecting leaf biomass quality and artemisinin concentration rates per hectare.

Lower extraction efficiency directly increases processing costs because manufacturers require larger biomass volumes to produce equivalent API output. This issue has become particularly relevant in regions facing inconsistent monsoon and rainfall patterns.

Another major factor shaping the Artemisinin Price Trend involves institutional procurement behavior. Large-volume purchasing by international healthcare organizations can temporarily tighten spot-market availability, particularly during periods of low crop yield.

To reduce volatility exposure, pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly adopting multi-source procurement contracts and hybrid sourcing strategies combining botanical extraction with semi-synthetic production pathways.

Long-term pricing stability may improve gradually as biosynthetic capacity expands. Fermentation-based production systems provide more predictable manufacturing economics because output is less vulnerable to agricultural fluctuations. However, conventional extraction is expected to remain commercially dominant throughout the remainder of the decade because of its lower capital intensity and established global supply infrastructure.

Within the broader Artemisinin Market, pricing competitiveness is becoming increasingly dependent on extraction efficiency, purification yield optimization, and vertical integration strategies rather than simple cultivation scale alone.

Competitive Landscape of the Artemisinin Market

The Artemisinin Market remains moderately consolidated, with a limited group of extraction specialists, pharmaceutical API manufacturers, and ACT formulation companies controlling a substantial share of global supply. Market leadership is largely concentrated in China due to established Artemisia annua cultivation ecosystems, integrated extraction infrastructure, and pharmaceutical purification capacity. However, multinational drug manufacturers and Indian generic pharmaceutical companies continue expanding their influence through large-scale ACT production and institutional supply contracts.

Competition within the Artemisinin Market increasingly depends on supply reliability, WHO-compliant manufacturing standards, extraction efficiency, and access to long-term procurement agreements from public healthcare agencies. Manufacturers with vertically integrated operations are better positioned to manage raw material price fluctuations and maintain stable margins during volatile crop cycles.

The top five producer groups collectively account for nearly half of global pharmaceutical-grade artemisinin supply in 2026. Chinese extraction companies dominate upstream production, while Indian and multinational pharmaceutical firms maintain strong positions in downstream ACT formulation manufacturing.

Artemisinin Market Share by Manufacturers

Chinese manufacturers are estimated to contribute approximately 35%–40% of total global Artemisinin Market revenue through dominance in cultivation, extraction, and API processing. Their scale advantages stem from mature agricultural networks in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Chongqing, where climatic conditions support high-yield Artemisia annua cultivation.

Multinational pharmaceutical companies account for nearly 18%–22% of market share, driven by advanced ACT portfolios, injectable artesunate manufacturing, and extensive public health distribution networks across malaria-endemic regions.

Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers hold an estimated 12%–16% share of the Artemisinin Market, supported by expanding exports of generic antimalarial formulations, pediatric ACT medicines, and hospital injectable therapies. India’s formulation manufacturing ecosystem continues gaining importance because of cost-efficient large-scale production capacity.

Emerging biotechnology firms currently represent a smaller share of total industry revenue but are steadily increasing their market presence through semi-synthetic artemisinin development. Fermentation-based production technologies are attracting investment because they reduce dependency on agricultural harvest cycles and improve long-term supply predictability.

Regional African manufacturers continue expanding gradually, particularly in Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, where governments are encouraging local pharmaceutical production to reduce reliance on imported antimalarial ingredients.

Major Manufacturers Operating in the Artemisinin Market

Sanofi

Sanofi remains one of the most influential pharmaceutical participants in the Artemisinin Market due to its extensive antimalarial portfolio and investments in semi-synthetic artemisinin production technologies. The company has played a major role in advancing fermentation-assisted artemisinin manufacturing to stabilize API availability during low agricultural yield periods.

Its antimalarial product portfolio includes artesunate-amodiaquine therapies and multiple ACT combinations widely supplied to public healthcare systems in Africa and Southeast Asia. Sanofi’s large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing network also provides strong distribution advantages in donor-funded procurement programs.

KPC Pharmaceuticals

KPC Pharmaceuticals is among the leading Chinese producers of artemisinin APIs and derivative formulations. The company operates integrated extraction and purification facilities that support large-scale artesunate and artemether production.

KPC’s manufacturing strength lies in high-volume API processing and export-oriented ACT production. Its pharmaceutical operations are closely linked with institutional procurement programs targeting malaria treatment expansion in Africa.

Guilin Pharmaceutical

Guilin Pharmaceutical maintains a strong competitive position within the Artemisinin Market due to its injectable artesunate portfolio, which has become increasingly important in severe malaria treatment protocols.

The company’s injectable formulations are widely used in emergency healthcare settings, particularly in regions with high malaria hospitalization rates. Rising demand for critical-care malaria therapies continues supporting expansion of Guilin Pharmaceutical’s international supply footprint.

The company also benefits from established regulatory compliance standards and long-term supply relationships with international healthcare procurement organizations.

Fujian Cosunter Pharmaceutical

Fujian Cosunter Pharmaceutical is recognized for its extensive botanical extraction capabilities and pharmaceutical-grade artemisinin purification technologies. The company focuses heavily on upstream supply-chain efficiency and large-scale API manufacturing.

Its operations include solvent extraction optimization, high-purity derivative processing, and raw material procurement integration. The company’s competitive advantage is closely tied to cost-efficient biomass processing and stable cultivation partnerships.

Natural Bio-engineering

Natural Bio-engineering continues expanding its role in the Artemisinin Market through advanced extraction technologies and derivative manufacturing. The company supplies multiple artemisinin intermediates used in ACT production and injectable therapeutic applications.

Its growing focus on pharmaceutical-grade purity standards is improving its positioning in higher-value derivative segments, particularly for hospital-based malaria treatment products.

BIONEXX

BIONEXX represents an important African-origin participant in the Artemisinin Market with vertically integrated cultivation and extraction operations based in Madagascar. The company has strengthened its role as global buyers increasingly diversify sourcing strategies beyond China.

Madagascar’s favorable climate conditions for Artemisia annua cultivation support strong biomass productivity, making the region strategically valuable for future supply-chain diversification.

Industry Structure Becoming More Technology-Oriented

The Artemisinin Market is gradually shifting from a purely agriculture-dependent industry toward a more technology-driven pharmaceutical ecosystem. Manufacturers are increasingly investing in:

• Semi-synthetic artemisinin production
• Precision extraction systems
• Advanced purification technologies
• High-yield seed development
• Fermentation-based biosynthesis

These investments are intended to reduce vulnerability to agricultural volatility and stabilize long-term supply economics.

At the same time, procurement agencies are placing greater emphasis on supplier diversification and manufacturing resilience. Companies capable of maintaining uninterrupted production during poor harvest seasons are securing stronger competitive positions within institutional purchasing networks.

Large pharmaceutical firms are also expanding inventory management strategies to protect against Artemisinin Price fluctuations and raw material shortages. This trend is encouraging long-term cultivation agreements and vertically integrated sourcing partnerships.

Recent News and Industry Developments

2026 – Expansion of Severe Malaria Treatment Programs

Several African healthcare systems expanded procurement of injectable artesunate therapies during 2026 as governments intensified severe malaria treatment access programs. This development significantly increased demand for high-purity artemisinin derivatives.

February 2026 – Semi-Synthetic Production Investments Increased

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies accelerated investments into fermentation-based artemisinin manufacturing systems aimed at stabilizing API supply and reducing agricultural dependency.

Late 2025 – Chinese Cultivation Capacity Expanded

Major Chinese extraction companies increased Artemisia annua cultivation contracts across Southeast Asia and East Africa to secure long-term biomass availability amid climate-related crop variability.

2025 – African Pharmaceutical Localization Initiatives

East African governments strengthened local pharmaceutical manufacturing policies focused on antimalarial formulation and packaging infrastructure to reduce import dependence.

2025 – Injectable Artesunate Manufacturing Capacity Grew

Several pharmaceutical companies expanded sterile injectable manufacturing facilities in response to rising hospital demand for severe malaria therapies across endemic economies.

2024–2025 – Biosynthetic Artemisinin Commercialization Progressed

Industrial-scale fermentation projects achieved higher commercial viability as improvements in metabolic engineering and bioprocess optimization reduced production costs for semi-synthetic artemisinin.