The US, Germany, Russia, UK and China are the top five markets for Indian pharmaceutical exports for the financial year ended March 2003, according to official statistics from Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Export Promotion Council (Chemexcil).

The pharmaceutical exports to US, the largest market, for the year ended March 2003 grew by 23 per cent to Rs. 2,023.4 crore compared to Rs. 1,641.2 crore the previous year.

Exports to Germany, the second largest market grew by 45 per cent to Rs. 727.7 crore compared to Rs. 503.4 crore, a year ago.

Exports to the third largest market Russia grew to Rs. 497.2 crore, a 3 per cent growth over the previous year's Rs. 481.1 crore.

Exports to UK, the fourth largest market during the year grew by a whopping 45 per cent to Rs. 409.9 crore compared to previous year's Rs. 282.2 crore.

China became the fifth largest export market for the Indian pharmaceutical industry with a growth of 4 per cent to Rs. 397.5 crore compared to Rs. 382 crore, a year ago.

The top five markets were followed by Nigeria, Brazil, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Mexico with market worth Rs. 354.8 crore, Rs. 344.1 crore, Rs. 318.6 crore, Rs. 262.4 crore and Rs. 248.3 crore respectively.

Indian exports to Canada increased by a gigantic 60 per cent to Rs. 238.7 crore compared to Rs. 149.2 crore, the previous year. Exports to Japan increased by another good 51 per cent to Rs. 229.1 crore compared to Rs. 151.3 crore, a year back.

Region wise, East Asia remained the largest market for the country's pharmaceutical exports with an export turnover of Rs. 2,336.1 crore for the year ended March 2003, a growth of 14 per cent compared to Rs. 2,042.3 crore, a year ago.

Exports to South Asia declined to Rs. 737.9 crore from Rs. 743.5 crore, a year ago. Exports to West Asian rose by 32 per cent to Rs. 575.6 crore compared to Rs. 435 crore, the previous year.

Exports to Africa rose by a 24 per cent to Rs. 1,581.1 crore compared to 1,276.2 crore, last year.

Pharmaceutical exports to East Europe grew by 24 per cent to Rs. 959.4 crore compared to Rs. 776.1 crore, in the year 2002.

Latin American exports increased by 3 per cent to Rs. 822.5 crore compared to Rs. 799.2 crore, last year.

Exports of pharmaceuticals and crude drugs from India registered a 20 per cent growth to reach Rs. 11,925 crore during 2002-03 as against an export of Rs.9, 943 crores registered in the previous year, as per the latest data available with Chemexcil.

Maximum exports took place from Mumbai-based ports. The Nhava Sheva Port dispatched Rs. 3,580.8 crore worth of exports compared to Rs. 2,704.7 crore. The Mumbai air dispatches were at Rs. 2,570.7 crore compared to Rs. 2,384 crore. Mumbai sea dispatches stood at Rs. 303.1 crore compared to Rs. 558.8 crore, the previous year.

Cipla, Dr. Reddy's Labs, Ranbaxy, Unique Labs, Unichem, BDH Industries, Lupin Labs, Lyka Labs, and Morepen Labs are the major exporters according to Chemexcil sources.