In 2020, exports to the domestic health industry reached $21.7 billion, an increase of 38.3% compared to 2019.
On the 11th, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute announced the export performance of the health industry, including medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics in 2020.
In 2020, exports to the health industry totaled $21.7 billion, an increase of 38.3% from the previous year.
By sector, in the case of pharmaceuticals, exports of pharmaceuticals in 2020 amounted to 8.43 billion dollars, up 62.6% from the previous year.
By item, biopharmaceuticals amounted to 4.91 billion dollars, an increase of 129.5% year-on-year, and disinfectants amounted to 260 million dollars, a small amount, but an increase of 3,699.9% year-on-year.
In particular, biopharmaceuticals are continuing their growth by exporting to 177 countries a year, with the highest monthly export amount of $700 million in December 2020.
Regarding quarantine supplies, exports of disinfectants produced in Korea amounted to 260 million dollars, an increase of 3,699.9% year-on-year, and the share of total pharmaceutical exports recorded 3.1%, up 3.0%p from 0.1% last year.
Medical device exports in 2020 were $5.7 billion, an increase of 44.0% from the previous year.
By item, diagnostic products, which are quarantine products, are exported to the world, and’diagnostic reagents’ were prepared for a finished product of $1.1 billion, an increase of 1,781.2% year-on-year.
On the other hand,’ultrasound imaging system’ was $400 million, down 24.1% from the previous year.
The Agency said, “Exports of ultrasound imaging diagnostics and implants, which are the flagship export items of existing medical devices, recorded negative growth until the first half, but in the fourth quarter due to the economic recovery in China, both items increased by more than 30% compared to the same period last year in the second half From now on, it has turned back to growth.”
Looking at quarantine supplies, exports of diagnostic products, including diagnostic kits, amounted to $2.17 billion, an increase of 755.8% from the previous year.
Director Kwon Soon-man of the Agency said, “In 2020, the entire industry went through difficult times due to the deterioration of external conditions due to the impact of Corona 19. Among the 20 major items, it ranked 7th, surpassing the performance of ships and auto parts.”
Director Kwon said, “In the future, KISA will foster and develop the biohealth industry, one of the BIG3 industries in Korea, as a new growth engine for national development, and play a pivotal role in keeping with the Korean version of the New Deal promoted by the government. Will” he added.