China export delay halts Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine production in Brazil

Sao Paulo governor blames ‘diplomatic ill will’ as raw materials shipment is held up by Chinese authorities

Brazilian manufacturer to deliver 1 million doses on Friday before shutting down production

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Brazil’s production of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine faces disruption after a shipment of raw materials was delayed from China. Photo: AP

Published: 11:17am, 13 May 2021Updated: 11:17am, 13 May 2021

Brazil’s production of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines will halt on Friday, as an expected shipment of raw materials waits for Chinese export clearance.

Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria blamed the delay – the second China export clearance to hit production this year – on “diplomatic ill will” and said the federal government should apologise to Beijing for its harsh criticism of China.

Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech sends the vaccine’s active ingredient to Brazil for the Butantan biomedical centre, which is backed by the Sao Paulo state government, to fill and finish in vaccine vials.

Butantan director Dimas Covas told a press briefing on Wednesday that China would not clear a cargo of active ingredients for shipment to Brazil by May 13, as previously expected. He said there was no clear date for when Chinese authorities would approve the shipment.

Doria said Butantan would deliver 1 million doses to the health ministry on Friday and after that would need to halt production due to the lack of raw materials.

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