In 2003 medicaments, according to the State customs committee data, were imported to the territory of Russia for the amount of more than 2,2 mlrd USDs, that makes 55 per cent more than the import of 2002. Such a high import supply growth rates were demonstrated first time for last five years.
The basic importers activity splash during the period under examination fallen on the 2nd and 4th quarters, whereas in 2002 the import was growing regularly, having attained its maximum by the 4th quarter.
The past year USD rate reduced regarding to RUR for 15,5 per cent. In current situation of stable increase of consumption and economical stability, the factor of currency exchange rates reflects on final figures of supply - in recalculation the total sum performs the figure which is by 15-20 per cent below the market in USD prices of 2002.
In practice, when analyzing annual dynamics of straight import supply, it should be taken into consideration, that pure statistics of import doesn't reflect the constant demand fluctuations for drugs in retail. For example, the pure dynamics of imports is showing that in 2002 the volumes were even smaller than in 2001 due to stocks made in 2001. If we take into account this particularity of Russian import supply sector, we should recalculate volumes of import in Russia and it gives growth rates at the level of 18-20 per cent.
The Western Europe is characterized by the largest portion of supplies - 57 per cent of all the medicaments in 2003 were imported to Russia from the countries of Western Europe. On average the past year import from Western Europe countries has increased regarding that in 2002 for 53 per cent. The German suppliers are leading here -15,2per cent of the total volume of import in 2003 fall on them. Schering AG is the leader in the growth rates, for one year the supplies increased practically 2,7 times, this was accompanied by displacement of the company in the rating from the 22nd place at the results of 2002 to the 12th place this year.
The French suppliers catch up practically with the Germany as to the volumes and deliveries growth rate. On their share falls a little more than 14 per cent of the whole volume of import realized in 2003. The rating of the largest suppliers also includes three companies. In the deliveries growth rate the leader is Sanofi-Synthelabo, which increased the import of medicaments to Russia for more than 2 times last year, occupying the 3rd place in the rating instead of the 8th at the end of 2002. And the first place in the TOP-25 of the largest suppliers as well as a year ago is occupied by Aventis, the deliveries of this company increased for 76per cent.
The gap between both Germany and France and other countries was secured for 95 per cent by national producers. In case with some other European countries - Belgium, Austria, Swiss, Finland - the high position is determined along with national producers by American corporations.
India occupies the 3rd place in the Top-25 of the countries - suppliers, the past year import of medicaments from this country increased for 78 per cent. Among Indian suppliers it is worth mentioning Shreya U.K. Limited, the past year the company increased the import of its products for more than 3,6 times. This could not but reflect on its position in the rating - 22nd place at the results of 2003 against 50th in 2002.
Pfizer the leader is among the American suppliers, in 2003 the company succeeded in increasing the import of its products to Russia for 88 per cent. In the Top-25 of suppliers Pfizer goes 6 lines up to the 8th place in the current rating. Schering-Plough which occupied the 23rd place increased the import of its products for 70 per cent in comparison with the deliveries in 2002.
The rating includes 2 companies from Switzerland: Roche and Novartis, growth of deliveries amounted to 61 per cent and 24 per cent accordingly. The Austrian suppliers are represented by one company - Boehringer Ingelheim, in comparison with 2002 the company increased the import of its products for more than 2,1 times.
Company Nycomed represented in the rating of Norwegian suppliers decreased insignificantly the import of its products to Russia (for 2 per cent) last year, but against the background of other suppliers the company is pressed in the rating for 5 points. The company's supply structure has shifted to cheaper products (export in Russia in natural terms increased by 4 per cent).
The import from the countries of Western Europe increased at the average for 45,6 per cent, and the share from the total import supply in 2003 amounted to 21,7 per cent.
The Hungarian suppliers increased the supply of medicaments to Russia for 92 per cent. There are two Hungarian companies. Gedeon Richter doubles the deliveries, and in the rating of suppliers at the results of 2003 the company occupies the 2nd position against the 3rd in 2002. It is a the first time when company oversteps the line of 100 million. USD. Egis occupying the 17th place in this rating increased its deliveries almost for 89 per cent.
The Croatian Pliva - Pliva HrvATCka - increased in 2003 the import of its products improving its position in rating for 2 points.
The deliveries of Slovenian Lek and KRKA increased in one year for 78per cent and 64 per cent correspondingly.
In comparison with 2002 the increase of activity of distributors - importers can be marked out, in one year their share in the total volume of import increased from 64 per cent to 71 per cent. Majority of them improved considerably their positions in the importers rating. In 2003 some suppliers, which commonly organized their export in Russia using their own enterprises, seemed to switch their supplies to distributors-importers. The share in the total volume of import of foreign producers subsidiaries has slightly decreased (21,4 per cent of the total volume of import fallen to their 24 per cent share in 2003).
The first three positions in the rating of the largest importers in 2003 as well as in the rating at the results of 2002 are held by three national distributors: Protek, SIA International and Shreya. The best growth rates in 2003 had the import realized by the company SIA International - its growth rate amounted to about a twice, the share of SIA in the total volume of import increased for 46,6 per cent and at the results of the period under examination achieved 14,9 per cent. The shares of two other "nationals" forming the top 3 have changed slightly - Protek's share in direct import increased by 2 per cent, the share of Shreya Corporational increased by 8,4 per cent. In total the top 3 companies - importers hold 41,6 per cent of the total volume of import in 2003.
Other national distribution companies, occupied in direct import supply, and also some interregional distributors also have demonstrated strong growth of supply. The Rosta Company (Rossib Pharmciya and Pharm Tamda) has increased the import almost for 44 per cent. Apteka-Holding occupying the 10th place, increased the import of medicaments for 33,5 per cent. Aptechny Sklad no. 1 lost three points in the top50 of the largest importers, in spite of the fact that the company increased the volume of imported medicaments for 33,9 per cent in comparison with the volumes of the last year. Import realized by Moron increased for more than 2,2 times, the company goes up in the rating for 11 points - it occupies the 16th place at the results of 2003. Katren increased its import for 68,9 per cent, but it lost 2 points in the rating - some companies in this part of rating have shown fantastic growth rates - importers is considerably higher. Among other distributors, oriented on mass retail market, Intercare reduced its activity, last year the company increased the volume of import for just 19 per cent (the main supplier, Indian company Delmark Investments, decreased its supply volume to Intercare) as a result it occupies the 24st place in the current rating instead of the 21st place a year ago.
The absolute rating champion in growth rate is Dominanta Service, the past year the company succeeded to increase 14,9 times its import. In the current top-list Dominanta Service occupies the 8th place, whereas a year ago it occupied only 71st place.
The companies representing the interests of foreign manufacturers, there are 16 such companies in the rating, realized about 21 per cent of the total volume of import in 2003. At the average the foreign representative offices increased the import of medicaments for 62 per cent in comparison with the last year. The absolute leader in the growth rates and volumes is Aventis, during the year the company increased the import of medicaments for more than 3,2 times. In the current top-50 the company occupies the 4th position, while last year it occupied the 11th place in the rating.
The current rating of the largest importers includes two companies dealing in the direct import. Orfe occupying the 15th place at the results of the year lost one position in the rating, in spite of the fact that import growth was about 54 per cent. Another direct importer- Items Sklady - decreased the medicaments import for 16,5 per cent, it is natural that it could not but be reflected on the company's position in the rating, it is on the 26th place in the current rating, whereas a year ago it occupied the 15th position.
Four Russian manufacturing companies (in total -8), engaged in medicaments import for further packaging and outsourcing in Russia, have joined the importers rating. A year ago Makiz-Pharma was not observed in import deliveries, it is on the 36th line in rating. As to growth rates the leader is Vektor-Medica, the past year the company managed to increase the medicaments import for 44 per cent. Sotex increased the volumes of import, its growth in comparison with 2002 made a little more than 38 per cent, the company preserved its 24th position in the rating. Only Ufavita surrenders its positions, for a year the company's import decreased for 11 per cent.