Global demand for pharmaceutical products remained strong in 2025, with worldwide imports of drugs and medicines reaching US$594.1 billion.

Compared with US$463.2 billion in 2021, the total value of imported pharmaceuticals increased by 28.2% over the past five years. On a year-over-year basis, imports also continued to grow, rising 10.9% from US$535.6 billion recorded in 2024.

The world's largest pharmaceutical import markets were the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and France. Together, these five countries accounted for 44% of global imports, reflecting a relatively concentrated market for prescription drugs and medicines.

Pharmaceutical Imports by Region

Europe remained the largest destination for imported pharmaceutical products in 2025, purchasing drugs and medicines worth US$343.8 billion, equivalent to 57.9% of global imports.

The regional distribution of pharmaceutical imports was:

1. Europe — 57.9%

2. North America — 19.5%

3. Asia — 15.0%

4. Latin America and the Caribbean — 3.9%

5. Africa — 2.3%

6. Oceania — 1.4%

Australia and New Zealand represented the largest pharmaceutical importers within Oceania.

The figures in this report combine imports classified under the following Harmonized System (HS) codes:

· HS Code 3003 — Medicaments consisting of two or more mixed constituents.

· HS Code 3004 — Other medicaments, including packaged pharmaceutical products.

Top Countries Importing Drugs and Medicines

The following countries recorded the highest pharmaceutical import values in 2025:

1. United States — US$96.6 billion (16.3%)

2. Switzerland — US$55.7 billion (9.4%)

3. Germany — US$43.7 billion (7.4%)

4. Belgium — US$41.6 billion (7.0%)

5. France — US$23.8 billion (4.0%)

6. Mainland China — US$23.6 billion (4.0%)

7. Italy — US$21.7 billion (3.6%)

8. United Kingdom — US$20.5 billion (3.5%)

9. Spain — US$20.1 billion (3.4%)

10. Japan — US$15.7 billion (2.6%)

11. Ireland — US$15.1 billion (2.5%)

12. Netherlands — US$11.9 billion (2.0%)

13. Canada — US$11.1 billion (1.9%)

14. Slovenia — US$10.2 billion (1.7%)

15. Poland — US$9.6 billion (1.6%)

Together, these fifteen countries accounted for 70.8% of global pharmaceutical imports in 2025, highlighting the importance of a relatively small number of markets in international medicine trade.

Fastest-Growing Pharmaceutical Import Markets

Several countries recorded substantial growth in pharmaceutical imports compared with 2021.

The strongest increases were reported by:

· Ireland — +186%

· Switzerland — +106.1%

· Slovenia — +80.1%

· Poland — +65.0%

Meanwhile, a few major import markets experienced year-over-year declines in 2025:

· Japan — -15.7%

· Netherlands — -11.4%

· Mainland China — -1.2%

Top Drugs and Medicines Import Companies

According to Tendata's Global Trade Intelligence Platform, the following companies ranked among the leading importers of drugs and medicines in 2025:

1. MINISTERIO DA SAUDE — 3.30% (US$713.02 million)

2. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC DO BRASIL LTDA — 2.13% (US$459.87 million)

3. NOVARTIS BIOCIENCIAS SA — 1.80% (US$388.99 million)

4. NOVO NORDISK FARMACEUTICA DO BRASIL LTDA — 1.69% (US$365.71 million)

5. JANSSEN CILAG FARMACEUTICA LTDA — 1.56% (US$336.35 million)

6. EVERSANA — 1.45% (US$313.73 million)

7. ELI LILLY DO BRASIL LTDA — 1.35% (US$291.53 million)

8. PRODUTOS ROCHE QUIMICOS E FARMACEUTICOS S A — 1.31% (US$282.53 million)

9. ASTRAZENECA DO BRASIL LTDA — 1.31% (US$281.82 million)

10. JOHNSON & JOHNSON DO BRASIL INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO DE PRO — 1.28% (US$276.39 million)

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