The total volume of API import to Russia reached an all-time high in 2020 in both monetary and physical terms, amounting to 14.4 thousand tons of APIs, worth 167.1 billion rubles (customs clearance and VAT included). The growth rates are +26.6% in monetary and +13% in physical terms.

Russian manufacturers produced 149.6 billion rubles worth of pharmaceutical drugs between January and March 2021 (manufacturer’s prices, VAT included), up 47% from the same period last year in monetary terms (rubles). While it is early to make predictions, it has been the highest growth rate in five years. The growth rate in physical terms (units) was +7%, with the production volume of 1.07 billion units. The growth rate was even lower, if calculated in MDUs (minimum dosage units), reaching 4.2%, with the production volume of 19.4 billion MDUs.

Russia imported 34.5 billion rubles worth of veterinary drugs in 2020 (customs clearance and VAT included), down 8.4% in monetary terms (rubles) from 2019. The seemingly negative growth rate was due to the high-base effect, since back in 2019, the market players had stocked up their warehouses to get ready for the upcoming regulatory changes. As for feed supplements, the import volume amounted to 40.2 billion rubles, with the growth rate of +10.5%.

At the first stage of the movement, more than 82% of all goods are shipped from distributors to the final destination, which is pharmacies, healthcare facilities and others. Pharmacies are, without a doubt, the main channel for the commercial market, accounting for more than 75% of the total volume of the first stage shipments. Another 5% are shipped to the warehouses of pharmacy chains, and then the goods are redistributed to specific points of sale by the pharmacy chain’s own logistics services.

Between January and February 2021, Russian manufacturers produced RUB 101.4 bln worth of pharmaceutical drugs (manufacturer’s prices, VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 61% higher than in 2020. The growth rate in physical terms (units) is a bit lower, +16%, with the production volume of 700 mln units. If calculated in minimum dosage units (MDU), the growth rate is only +2.4% and the production volume is 11.9 bln MDUs.