Drug exports up, but recession hits home market

CASE analyst Katarzyna Pietka announced yesterday during a seminar on the domestic pharmaceuticals market that in terms of its value, the Polish market increased by 3.5% - to zl. 11.7 billion - in 2002, compared with an 8.8% growth recorded a year earlier. However, in terms of the number of units sold, it shrank by 8.3% following a 1.3% drop in 2001. "It seems that one of the main factors responsible for the lower growth dynamic, was the drop in disposable income and spending of households in the years 2001-2002," Pietka explained. She added that the drugs market, in terms of sales, was fragmented as the ten biggest companies hold a total market share of 38.7%, half the worldwide average. Meanwhile, the exports of domestic producers increased by about 32% in 2002. (Reuters, Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 7) M.M.