ALGIERS-The import bill of pharmaceutical products increased by more than 8% over the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, despite a drop in imported quantities, Customs told APS.
The value of imports of these products hit USD 1.49 billion between early January and late September against USD 1.38 billion (+8.17%), the Customs’ National Centre of Data Processing and Statistics (CNIS).
However, imported quantities decreased by 5.7% to nearly 18,000 tonnes against 19,090 tonnes between the two comparison periods.
According to categories of products, the drugs bill (for human use) reached USD 1.4 billion against USD 1.31 billion (+7.25%) while quantities went down to 16,049 tonnes against 17,391 tonnes (-6.6 %).
As regard drugs for animal use, their imports hit USD 25.2 million (528.2 tonnes) against USD 21.94 million (517.4 tonnes), up by 14.76 % in value and 2.06% in volume.
Regarding imports of para-pharmaceutical products (adhesive bandages, gauze, reagents, kits pharmacy…), they hit USD 60.35 million (1,423.3 tonnes) against USD 45.97 million (1,181.3 tonnes), up by 31.3% in value and over 20% in volume.
Source: Drugs: Import bill up by over 8% in first 9 months
