In January–April 2022, Russia imported 73.2 billion rubles’ worth of APIs (customs clearance and VAT included), up 0.5% from the same period in 2021. In physical terms, the import volume was 6,500 tons, up 15% from January–April 2021. However, mostly January and February contributed to the high growth rates.

From January to April 2022, Russian manufacturers produced 258.8 billion rubles’ worth of pharmaceutical drugs (manufacturer’s prices, VAT included), up 29.3% from the same period in 2021. In physical terms, the production volume was 1.47 billion packages, up 3.5% from the year before. However, if calculated in minimum dosage units (MDU), the production volume was 26.9 billion, up only 1.3%.

In Q1 2022, the online sales or reservations of pharmacy products (pharmaceutical drugs and parapharmaceuticals) in Russia were 78.4 billion rubles (end-user prices, VAT included), 69.6% up from Q1 2021 against 52.7% in 2021 / 2020. The online segment seems to be growing faster and faster, but last year the growth rate of the online were several times that of the offline. Now, however, the growth rate of the online only doubles that of the offline, with the sales in the traditional pharmaceutical retail channel having increased by 32.4%.

Global changes in the logistics system followed Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, becoming one of the main topics in recent months. These changes made it impossible for certain transport corridors to function, as well as increased the risks of imports failing to pass through the territories of certain countries, in particular Poland. Finally, air traffic bans were a result of political pressure in the form of sanctions, suspending the reservation of certain container lines intended for imports to Russia. Obviously, this led to changing both the import routes themselves and the terms of additional insurance, prepayment requirements, etc. In one word, logistics became significantly more expensive than in the pre-crisis period.

The Russian pharmaceutical retail market was able to go through the rush demand, which immediately followed the crisis due to the events in Ukraine, without any major difficulties. In addition to the revenue skyrocketing, the infrastructure also had a significant growth. As of April 1, 2022, the total number of pharmacies in Russia reached 72,200, an all-time high growth (+ more than 3,000 pharmacies).

In January–April 2022, the offline sales of veterinary drugs in the Russian retail market were 7.1 billion RUB (retail prices, VAT included), up only 2.5% from January–April 2021, while the growth rate was as high as 16% back in January–March 2022. In physical terms, the volume was 45.4 million minimum dosage units (MDU), down 15.2% in MDUs.

The work of all participants in the Russian pharmaceutical market was tremendously influenced by the well-known events of the early spring, with the surge in demand in the retail and public procurement segments fading into insignificant here. What is much more important is which effect the crisis will have on the logistics, as well as how it will reshape the relations between the manufacturer and the distributor, and the distributor and the pharmacy.

In January–March 2022, Russia imported 9.6 billion rubles’ worth of veterinary drugs (customs clearance and VAT included), down 2.6% from the same period in 2021. However, the growth rate in 2021 was 6.8%. As for feed supplements, the import volume was 12.7 billion rubles, up 37% from Q1 2021. The last time the growth rates were double-digit was back in 2020 (11.5%).

In Q1 2022, the offline sales of veterinary drugs in the Russian retail market were 4.7 billion RUB (retail prices, VAT included), up 16% from Q1 2021. In physical terms, the volume was 31.5 million minimum dosage units (MDU), down 14.2% in MDUs.

From January to March 2022, Russia imported 5,200 tons of APIs worth 53 billion RUB (customs clearance and VAT included), up 23.1% in physical terms from Q1 2021. However, the growth rate in monetary terms (rubles) is –7.5%, the first negative growth rate in 10 years.