🇬🇧 United Kingdom exports of packaged medicines: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported packaged medicines worth $18.31 billion (146.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 10th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 211 countries. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of packaged medicines by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18.31B | 146.0K t |
| 2023 | $17.84B | 151.2K t |
| 2022 | $20.08B | 160.3K t |
| 2021 | $18.11B | 153.8K t |
| 2020 | $19.28B | 186.2K t |
| 2019 | $18.72B | 192.3K t |
| 2018 | $19.55B | 185.1K t |
| 2017 | $20.22B | 191.2K t |
Where the United Kingdom exports packaged medicines to
The largest buyer markets were United States (17%), Germany (11%), Belgium (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 38%. Among the main buyer markets, Spain grew fastest (+91% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $3.14B | 17% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $1.99B | 11% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $1.89B | 10% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $1.57B | 8.6% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $1.20B | 6.6% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $1.01B | 5.5% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $751.5M | 4.1% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $564.8M | 3.1% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $508.7M | 2.8% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $488.9M | 2.7% |
Types of packaged medicines under HS 3004
| 3004.90 | Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | 80% |
| 3004.32 | Medicaments: containing corticosteroid hormones, their derivatives or structural analogues (but not containing antibiotics), for therapeutic or… | 7% |
| 3004.39 | Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail… | 6.8% |
| 3004.49 | Medicaments: containing alkaloids or their derivatives: other than ephedrine, pseudoephedrine (INN) or norephedrine or their salts: for therapeutic… | 2% |
| 3004.20 | Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for… | 1.9% |
| 3004.10 | Medicaments: containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | 1.8% |
| 3004.50 | Medicaments: containing vitamins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic use, packaged for retail sale | 0.4% |
| 3004.60 | Medicaments: containing antimalarial active principles described in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged… | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3004.
Average export price of packaged medicines
The average declared value was about $125.47 per kg, 55% above the world average of $80.84. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Kingdom also imports packaged medicines
The United Kingdom imported $17.55 billion of packaged medicines in 2024 (187.5 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 7th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 225 countries. Most of the value came from United States (16%), Germany (13%), Italy (12%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 41%. Among the main suppliers, Italy grew fastest (+109% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $2.88B | 16% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $2.32B | 13% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $2.09B | 12% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $1.53B | 8.7% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $1.38B | 7.9% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $1.07B | 6.1% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $843.5M | 4.8% |
| 🇨🇠Switzerland | $784.7M | 4.5% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $629.6M | 3.6% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $602.8M | 3.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3004: Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic use, put up in measured doses (incl. those in the form of transdermal admin. systems) or packed for retail sale.
Packaged medicines trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of packaged medicines imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported packaged medicines worth $17.55 billion in 2024 (187.5 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import packaged medicines from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were United States (16%), Germany (13%), Italy (12%).
What is the average import price of packaged medicines in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $93.62 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $80.84 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export packaged medicines?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported packaged medicines worth $18.31 billion in 2024, mainly to United States, Germany, Belgium.
What is the HS code for packaged medicines?
Packaged medicines falls under HS heading 3004 (Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or pr). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading packaged medicines with the United Kingdom?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Packaged medicines trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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