EU-27 trade in medicinal and pharmaceutical products rose by 11% in 2009 in spite of the global economic crisis

The EU-27 was by far the major world trader in medicinal and pharmaceutical products (SITC division 54) in 2009, with total trade amounting to €123.3 billion. Exports made up 65% of this trade. The United States was the second largest world trader in these products, with trade of €74.9 billion. Over the period 2000-2009, the United States was the main trading partner for extra EU-27 exports of these products. Both export and import trade more than doubled over the period and, in 2009, the USA accounted for 35% of all extra EU 27 trade. Switzerland was the main trading partner for imports, with a growth of 174% over the period 2000-2009. In 2009, Switzerland accounted for more than a fifth of all extra EU-27 trade in these products.