Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical imports reached 19,000 tons in 1H24, with a total value of $1.06bn. This marks the highest monetary value for a half-year period since 2019, according to analysts from the First Credit Bureau (FCB). Key suppliers include Germany, India, and Italy, with Russia contributing the largest portion of the import volume.

The country’s pharmaceutical imports grew by 56% compared to the same period in the previous year. A similar increase was observed in the monetary value of imports from January to June 2022, where a 39% rise was recorded, taking the total from $1bn to $1.5bn. Additionally, the import volume rose by 38% compared to the first half of 2023.

Germany remains the leading supplier, with a 16% share of the market, equivalent to $173.3mn. India follows with a 9% share, or $93.4mn, and Italy with 7%, or $74.1mn. Russia, while holding a 6% share in monetary terms, contributed over a quarter of the total import volume, delivering 5,200 tons out of the total 19 thousand tons.

Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical production for the same period amounted to KZT 87.3bn (around $194.4mn). The country also exported medications, totalling $8.1mn in sales and 760 tons in volume, according to the State Revenue Committee’s operational data.

During this period, Kazakhstan exported medications to several countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Moldova, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Slovenia, and Germany. Uzbekistan emerged as the primary export destination, accounting for 60.4% of the total export value, equivalent to $4.9mn. In terms of volume, 657.5 tons out of the total 760 tons were shipped to Uzbekistan.