Quality · Access · Hope
Countries

🇬🇧 #2 Export Destination

United Kingdom

A cornerstone of India's pharmaceutical exports

$832M CY 2025

United Kingdom is India's #2 pharmaceutical export destination, receiving $832M in pharmaceutical products. Exports have grown 2.8× over the past decade — a trade relationship that has deepened significantly. The vast majority are finished medicines — drug formulations ready for dispensing.

Dual-source profile. Both series show HS Chapter 30 (finished pharmaceutical products) aligned to calendar year (Jan–Dec). HMRC records what United Kingdom imports from India. DGCIS records what India exports to United Kingdom. Category and product detail from DGCIS.
$832M
Scale
India supplies $832M in pharmaceutical products to United Kingdom each year — a substantial supply line of affordable medicine.
87%
Medicine
Overwhelmingly finished medicines — drug formulations account for 87% of shipments.
2.8×
Trajectory
United Kingdom's imports of Indian pharmaceutical products have grown 2.8× since 2018 — from $298M in 2018 to $832M in 2025.
#2
Context
A top-three pharmaceutical export destination for India.
✦
Impact
Indian pharmaceutical companies have both exported to and invested directly in United Kingdom — building trade and operational presence.
Export Trend HMRC CY DGCIS Ch.30
Beyond Finished Medicines DGCIS CY 2014–2025

Non-Chapter-30 pharma categories from DGCIS (487-code basket)

Category Mix — FY 2025–26 DGCIS
Medicines $783M (86.7%) Medicine Ingredients $72.6M (8.0%) Surgical & Hospital Supplies $30.0M (3.3%) Traditional & Herbal $17.1M (1.9%) Vaccines $0.06M (0.0%)
Top Products — FY 2025–26 DGCIS
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients DGCIS India-side

India also supplied $79.5M in active pharmaceutical ingredients and bulk drugs to United Kingdom in 2025 (India-reported, DGCIS).

Indian Pharma Investment in United Kingdom Source: RBI ODI Data

Total RBI-approved ODI commitments by Indian pharmaceutical companies into United Kingdom: $7.6B across 200 filings (2011-2026).

Global Pharma Thrives in India Source: OPPI / Annual Reports

The relationship flows both ways. British pharmaceutical companies are among the largest investors in India's health ecosystem — operating manufacturing plants, R&D centres, and clinical trial networks across the country.

AstraZeneca
$54B global revenue
Farxiga (Cardio-Renal) · Tagrisso (Oncology) · Imfinzi (Oncology)
GSK
global revenue
3,113 employees
Shingrix (Vaccines) · Nucala (Respiratory) · Trelegy Ellipta (Respiratory)