Export of medicines to European countries – realities and prospects

Evidence of the successful activity of our pharmaceutical industry is the export of Ukrainian medicines and the dynamics of its growth even during the war. Over the period since 2012, Ukraine exported the largest number of pharmaceutical products in 2021 (316 million USD), in 2022 these volumes decreased (238 million USD), and in 2023 they increased by 17.2% - to 279 million USD. And this despite the fact that after the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian pharmaceutical companies suspended trade and economic relations with the russian federation and belarus. And traditionally, the exporters of Ukrainian pharmaceutical products are precisely the states of the former Union (currently the largest of them are Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova). There are few European countries among the exporters, due to the lack of GMP certificates of European countries for many domestic pharmaceutical companies.

At the same time, leading pharmaceutical companies that hold such certificates are opening up new sales markets and have increased their share of exports to the EU by 14.2% over the past two years — from 6.7% of the total in 2021 to 15.4% in 2022 and 20.9% in 2023.

In the structure of Ukrainian exports, mainly medicines (217 million USD in 2023), but it is interesting that during 2012-2023, the category “Serums, vaccines” experienced the greatest growth in Ukrainian exports — from 3.5% to 16.8%, respectively.

At the same time, the share of imports of pharmaceutical products in Ukraine’s trade is decreasing.
If for the period from 2012 to 2021 this “decline” reached 2% (from 93% to 91%, respectively), then for 2021 — 2023 it was much larger (the share of imports last year was 88%).
Almost unchanged leaders in imports of medicines to Ukraine are Germany, India and France. These countries cover an average of 75% of imports among the top 5 directions during 2012-2023.
The above trends indicate a decrease in our state’s import dependence in this direction and the need to continue to support domestic manufacturers.