Korea's pharmaceutical exports surpassed $10 billion for the first time. With biopharmaceutical exports reaching a record high and accounting for more than 70% of total exports, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety analyzed that the expansion of biosimilars' global market share and strengthened competitiveness in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) drove the export growth.
According to the "2025 Domestic Pharmaceutical Production Results" released by the ministry Monday, domestic pharmaceutical production reached 33.8466 trillion won last year, up 3.0% from the previous year. It was the first time domestic pharmaceutical production exceeded 33 trillion won.
Pharmaceutical exports totaled $10.438 billion, up 12.4% from the previous year, surpassing $10 billion for the first time. Imports were tallied at $8.93219 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.581 billion.
Biopharmaceuticals led the growth. Biopharmaceutical production reached 7.0214 trillion won, up 11.2% from the previous year, marking a record high. Exports also rose 17.5% to $7.64 billion, setting a new all-time high. Biopharmaceuticals accounted for 73% of total pharmaceutical exports.
The ministry analyzed that the expansion of biosimilars' global market share and strengthened competitiveness of domestic CDMO were the main factors behind the increase in biopharmaceutical exports. By country, the United States remained the largest export destination at $1.71 billion, while exports to Switzerland and the Netherlands surged 173.5% and 216.8%, respectively.
By product, recombinant DNA drug production reached 4.189 trillion won, accounting for 59.7% of biopharmaceutical production. Vaccines totaled 860.5 billion won and toxins and antitoxins 784.9 billion won, both showing growth.
In production results by company, Celltrion (068270.KS) reached 3.2254 trillion won, becoming the first in Korea's pharmaceutical industry to surpass 3 trillion won in production. It was followed by GC Biopharma (006280.KS) at 2.0547 trillion won, Chong Kun Dang (185750.KS) at 1.9564 trillion won, Hanmi Pharmaceutical (128940.KS) at 1.6135 trillion won, and Daewoong Pharmaceutical (069620.KS) at 1.3515 trillion won.
"As the global competitiveness of Korea's pharmaceutical industry expands, centered on biopharmaceuticals, both production and exports continue to grow," a ministry official said.
