Pharmaceutical exports grew 4.90 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to $16.14 billion during the first half of 2026-27 (H1FY27), on higher dealings with non-United States (US) markets, even as shipments to the US fell.
While the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) did not share data for US markets, it claimed that export shipments moderated during the period.
“The gains across these markets highlight the opportunities for Indian exporters to deepen their engagement with Europe,” Pharmexcil stated.
Similarly, shipments to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) grew 21.54 per cent, while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded 16.58 per cent growth and Africa grew 6.48 per cent.
“These gains also helped sustain India’s overall pharma export growth, even as shipments to the US moderated, highlighting the importance of a geographically diversified export presence,” Pharmexcil stated.
The geographical gains were matched by growth in key product categories over the same period.
Drug formulations and biologicals remained the largest export category, accounting for 73.84 per cent of total shipments, with its share growing by 3.81 per cent over the previous corresponding period.
“Bulk drugs and drug intermediates grew 12.07 per cent, while surgical exports increased 9.53 per cent. The product mix underscores the range of medicines and healthcare products supplied by Indian pharmaceutical exporters,” the export promotion body said.
Pharmexcil Chairman Namit Joshi added that the next phase of India’s pharma export growth should focus on moving up the value chain, where Indian companies are not just suppliers but active partners in pharmaceutical innovation.
“This will require greater investment in research and development, technology transfer and co-development of complex generics, biosimilars and specialised therapies,” he said.
