Türkiye's Top Pharmaceutical Export Market Was South Korea

Turkey's pharmaceutical and druggist products exports increased 26.8 percent year-on-year in 2020 to reach USD 1.9 billion, with South Korea as the top destination. According to information compiled by an AA correspondent from data provided by the Ministry of Commerce and the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkey's pharmaceutical and druggist products exports increased, partly due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The pharmaceutical sector, whose strategic importance has been emphasized recently, ranks among the highest value-adding sectors globally. The sector, which has entered a period of rapid growth in recent years due to demographic changes and disease prevalence, ranks as the third largest sector worldwide. According to International Trade Center data, global pharmaceutical imports reached USD 694.1 billion in 2019, rising 5.1 percent from the previous year. The leading countries in global pharmaceutical imports are the United States, Germany, Belgium, China, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Turkey ranked 22nd among pharmaceutical importing countries in 2019 with a 0.7 percent share.  

Medicines for therapeutic and preventive use lead exports

Turkey's pharmaceutical and druggist products exports rose 26.8 percent year-on-year to USD 1,849,658,000 last year. When examined by product group, medicines prepared for therapeutic and preventive use led with USD 1.1 billion. These were followed by human and animal blood, sera, vaccines and toxins at USD 652.4 million, and pharmaceutical articles and preparations at USD 42.6 million. The product group with the highest external sales growth last year was glycosides at 564.3 percent. In terms of percentage increase, this product group was followed by provitamins and vitamins at 83.8 percent and hormones at 77.1 percent.

South Korea takes first place

In Turkey's pharmaceutical and druggist products exports last year, South Korea ranked first with USD 615.9 million. Along with South Korea, the countries in the top 15 for exports were Iraq, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Iran, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Poland, Northern Cyprus, Slovenia, Germany, Syria and Albania. Exports to these countries accounted for 67.3 percent of the sector's total exports. Meanwhile, under the Turkish Exporters Council's 2023 Export Strategy, the target for the pharmaceutical and druggist products sector for 2023 was set at USD 3.3 billion.

Imports at approximately USD 5.4 billion level

Turkey's pharmaceutical and druggist sector imports reached USD 5,354,537,000 in 2020, up 1.1 percent year-on-year. When examined by product group, medicines prepared for therapeutic and preventive use led imports at USD 2.4 billion. These were followed by human and animal blood, sera, vaccines and toxins along with antibiotics at USD 2.2 billion, and antibiotics at approximately USD 184 million. During the period in question, Germany ranked first in imports. Imports from this country amounted to USD 1.1 billion, down 6.9 percent year-on-year. Pharmaceutical and druggist sector imports from the United States reached USD 599.1 million and from South Korea USD 541.5 million. Other countries in the top 15 for Turkey's pharmaceutical imports are Italy, France, Switzerland, Ireland, China, Denmark, England, Belgium, India, Spain, Sweden and Brazil.   Source: AA