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Import of bulk drugs grows around 2 per cent in FY25
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Gireesh Babu, New Delhi
May 17 , 2025
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Imports of bulk drugs and intermediates to India have seen a growth of 1.8 per cent during the fiscal year 2024-25, even as the quantity has gone up almost 9.3 per cent as compared to the same period a year ago, according to official data.
Imports during the month of March, 2025, has registered a 4.42 per cent growth, with the quantity of imports growing almost nine months during the month compared to the corresponding month, last fiscal year.
According to data from the ministry of commerce and industry, the imports during FY 2024-25 stood at $4.65 billion, as compared to $4.55 billion in FY 2023-24. This is compared to a marginal decline reported in the FY 2023-24, as against the $4.51 billion imports reported during FY 2022-23.
The quantity of imports during FY 2024-25 was at 4,93,971.5 million tonnes (MT), a growth of 9.3 per cent compared to 4,51,993.9 MT during the same period of last year.
In Rupee terms, the growth was 3.96 per cent during the fiscal year, at Rs. 39,214.45 crore as compared to Rs. 37,721.45 crore registered in the 12 months of previous year.
During the month of March, 2025, the imports grew 4.42 per cent to $378.57 million as against $362.53 million during the same month a year ago.
The imports grew almost 9 per cent during the month, to 50,107 MT as compared to 46,008 MT reported in the same month last year.
In Rupee terms, the growth was 9 per cent at Rs. 3,279.82 crore as compared to Rs. 3,008.92 crore during March, 2024.
As reported earlier, in the first 11 months ended February, 2025, imports of bulk drugs and intermediates were at $4.25 billion, as compared to $4.19 billion during the same period of previous fiscal year. In Rupee terms, the imports were 3.52 per cent higher at Rs. 35,934 crore during the 11 months, as compared to Rs. 34,712 crore during the corresponding period of previous fiscal year.
The Central government has been emphasising on reducing the imports of essential pharmaceutical raw materials such as bulk drugs, drug intermediates and key starting materials, among others, and has initiated various incentive schemes to support domestic production of these materials.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has been promoting production of pharma raw materials in the country, including through a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical key starting materials (KSMs)/drug intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the country, to support the industry in various aspects regarding ease of doing business and availing the benefits of the Scheme.
The scheme, notified by the Centre on July 21, 2020, envisages manufacturing of 41 bulk drugs with a total outlay of Rs. 6,940crore during the tenure of the scheme, which is from 2020-21 to 2029-30. It envisages incentive at the rate of 20% for the first four years, 15% for fifth year and 5% for sixth year on eligible sales of fermentation based bulk drugs. In respect of chemical synthesis based bulk drugs, incentive is to be given at the rate of 10% for six years on the eligible sales.
It has also announced schemes to promote bulk drug parks in the country, as part of its efforts to promote domestic manufacturing of pharma ingredients.
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