The COVID-19 epidemic naturally became the central issue of the first half of the year. For distributors, it was a time of emergency work, a major change in both business processes and cooperation with the retail. Larger companies have long been trying to tighten relations with the retail, but the epidemic revived this trend, and made it one of the key issues in relations with partners. As a result, most of the top distributors have cut a considerable number of their delivery points. The top distributors’ share was also declining, but the factor of uneven market development was of prime importance here, since the state segment grew several times faster than the retail.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 6.29 bln RUB worth of veterinary vaccines (customs clearance included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 13% higher than in 2019, even though the importers stocked up their warehouses in late 2019. The import volume of veterinary vaccines in 2019 has grown by more than 37%. In the first half of 2020, the import volume amounted to 3.39 mln units, with the dynamics of +0.4%. If calculated in dosages, the dynamics are -6.7%, and the import volume is 23.32 bln dosages.

Between January and June 2020, Russia manufactured 232 bln RUB worth of pharmaceutical drugs (manufacturers’ dispatch prices, VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 24% higher than in 2019. The dynamics in physical terms (units) are +18.3%, with the manufacture volume of 2.45 bln units. If calculated in minimum dosage units (MDU), Russia manufactured 42.7 bln MDUs, with the dynamics of +21.2%.

44% of Russian doctors believe that the COVID-19 situation is stable, but at the same time note that the morbidity rates have not significantly reduced, according to a survey by the RNC Pharma analyst company and the Doktor Na Rabote (Doctor at Work) social media service for doctors. This opinion is shared by 60% of the respondents residing in Moscow and St. Petersburg and by only 37% of those residing in the other regions. However, no one expects complete unanimity, because the epidemiological situation obviously differs from region to region.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 12.2 bln RUB worth of pharmaceutical drugs for clinical trials (CT) (customs clearance and VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 49% higher than in 2019. The dynamics in physical terms (units) are also positive, +40%, with the import volume of 472 thousand units.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 1.17 bln RUB worth of veterinary APIs (customs clearance and VAT included), which is monetary terms (rubles) 7% lower than in 2019. The dynamics in physical terms (kilograms) are -25%, with the volume of 412 tons.

49% of pharmacists see the growing iHerb service as an absolute danger, because more and more people buy OTC drugs online, according to an online survey by the RNC Pharma analyst company and the Doktor Na Rabote (Doctor at Work) social media service for doctors. However, it is obvious that the respondents also meant other online marketplaces, since the Russian market has a number of specialized and non-specialized players selling dietary supplements, cosmetic products, and other pharmacy products. Another 4% of the pharmacists note that the consumer is basically the same both online and offline, and their budget is very limited due to the current economic conditions.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 15.2 bln RUB worth of veterinary drugs (customs clearance and VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 5% higher than in 2019, and 21.2 bln RUB worth of feed supplements, with the dynamics of +17% in monetary terms.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 269.3 bln RUB worth of ready-made pharmaceuticals (customs clearance and VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 2% lower than in 2019. The dynamics were even lower in May 2020 (-27%), but in June, the importers sought to have their stocks replenished after it became clear that the launch of the labeling system would not be postponed again. As for in-bulk pharmaceutical drugs, the import volume amounted to 64.5 bln RUB, with the dynamics of +20%.

Between January and June 2020, Russia imported 87.3 bln RUB worth of APIs (customs clearance and VAT included), which is in monetary terms (rubles) 54% higher than in 2019. In physical terms, the import volume amounted to 7.3 thousand tons of APIs, including commercial ones, with the dynamics of +25%.