Indian pharma sector exports rise eight per cent to $6.26 billion in first quarter

Indian pharma exports registered a growth of eight per cent during the first quarter of the current financial year to $6.26 billion, as officials hope for a 10 per cent growth by the end of the fiscal.

Udaya Bhaskar, Director General, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), a body under the Department of Commerce said pharma exports to European Union and other CIS countries which were hit by the ongoing war in Ukraine and restrictions are expected to improve once the situation becomes normal.

“In the first quarter, our exports recorded eight per cent growth. We are positive of a growth of 3.6 per cent to the US in the first quarter, where 30 per cent of our exports go.”

“I am optimistic that our exports to EU and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) will improve once the situation of Russia-Ukraine war settles. Our exports may be around $27 billion in FY 22-23,” Bhaskar told PTI.

India clocked $24.61 billion worth of pharma exports in FY22, registering one per cent growth over FY21.

The exports of “Made in India” pharma products continue to touch new heights with 146 per cent increase in exports in April-June 2022 over the same period in 2013, Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, had said recently.

Further, the official said COVID-19 vaccine exports stood at 239 million doses to over 100 countries and they continue to grow.

Replying to a query on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, he said the former is an important country for India and occupies fifth position in terms of pharma exports.

Nearly 60 per cent of the overall exports to CIS countries go to Russia and with the war figures are dwindling, he further said adding due exports to Europe also have also been impacted.

“If the situation improves, India may witness $1 billion worth of exports more,” he opined.

He said Pharmexcil and the Russian Embassy in New Delhi organised a webinar with the representatives of Russian Trade Commission, bankers, India and Russian businessmen to address the issues related to shortage of pharma products there.

“The aim of the webinar is on how to improve Indian exports and how Indian and Russian companies need to address the issues,” he said.

Evgeny Griva, Deputy Trade Commissioner of Russian Federation-India, Uday Bhaskar, high level government delegates and leading Russian pharma institutions and about 110 Indian companies participated in the webinar, he added.