South Korea drug exports cross $10 billion for first time in 2025
Synopsis
South Korea's pharma industry just crossed a landmark it has never reached before — $10.44 billion in drug exports in a single year. With Celltrion alone crossing 3 trillion won in production and the sector growing faster than South Korea's GDP for five straight years, this is no longer a niche story. It is a structural shift in who makes the world's medicines.
Key Takeaways
South Korea recorded $10.44 billion in pharmaceutical exports in 2025 — the first time the $10 billion threshold has been crossed.
The pharmaceutical trade surplus rose 41.9 percent on-year to a record $1.56 billion .
Drug production reached 33.8 trillion won in 2025, the highest since data collection began in 1998 .
Celltrion Inc. became the first South Korean company to exceed 3 trillion won in annual drug production, growing 27.6 percent on-year.
The sector's five-year average production growth of 7.3 percent outpaced South Korea's GDP growth of 4.6 percent over the same period.
KOSPI fell nearly 3 percent on Thursday as US semiconductor stock losses pressured Korean chipmakers.
South Korea's pharmaceutical exports surpassed the $10 billion mark for the first time in 2025, with production simultaneously hitting a record high, according to data released by the country's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday, 2 July. The milestone underscores the rapid global ascent of South Korean pharma, driven by biosimilars and contract manufacturing.
Export and Trade Figures
South Korean companies shipped a total of $10.44 billion worth of pharmaceuticals in 2025, a rise of 12.4 percent from the previous year, according to ministry data. Imports also grew, advancing 5.9 percent year-on-year to $8.93 billion.
The resulting trade surplus from pharmaceuticals climbed 41.9 percent on-year to $1.56 billion — the highest ever recorded for the sector.
What Drove the Growth
Biopharmaceuticals led the export surge, buoyed by the expanding global market share of South Korean biosimilar producers and the strengthening competitiveness of their contract development and manufacturing operations, commonly referred to as CDMO. This segment has increasingly attracted multinational partnerships seeking cost-effective, high-quality manufacturing alternatives.
On the production side, South Korean firms collectively manufactured drugs worth 33.8 trillion won in 2025, up 3 percent year-on-year — the highest annual output since the government began tracking such data in 1998. Prescription-based medicines and finished drug products posted the fastest growth, rising 5.3 percent and 3.7 percent on-year, respectively.
Standout Companies
Four companies crossed the 1 trillion won annual production threshold in 2025, including Celltrion Inc. and Hanmi Pharm Co. Notably, Celltrion's drug production surged 27.6 percent on-year to exceed 3 trillion won (approximately $1.9 billion), making it the first South Korean company to cross that mark.
Pharma Outpacing the Broader Economy
The pharmaceutical sector's average annual production growth rate over the past five years stood at 7.3 percent — well above South Korea's overall GDP growth rate of 4.6 percent during the same period, according to the ministry. This consistent outperformance signals that pharma is emerging as a structural growth engine for the South Korean economy, rather than a cyclical contributor.
Markets Under Pressure
Separately, Seoul stocks opened sharply lower on Thursday morning, trimming some losses but still trading nearly 3 percent lower by late morning, as an overnight selloff in US semiconductor stocks weighed on Korean chipmakers. The bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX) activated a sell-side sidecar for the KOSPI at around 9:07 am, halting programme trading for five minutes after the KOSPI 200 Futures index dropped more than 5 percent for at least one minute.
With pharmaceutical exports now firmly above the $10 billion threshold and a record trade surplus in hand, South Korea's drug sector appears positioned for continued expansion — provided global biosimilar demand and CDMO partnerships hold their momentum.
Point of View
Korean CDMOs are the primary beneficiaries. The real question is whether South Korea can defend this position as India scales its own biosimilar and CDMO capacity aggressively through the next decade.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did South Korea export in pharmaceuticals in 2025?
South Korea exported $10.44 billion worth of pharmaceuticals in 2025, a rise of 12.4 percent from the previous year. This is the first time the country's drug exports have crossed the $10 billion mark.
What drove South Korea's pharmaceutical export growth?
Biopharmaceuticals, particularly biosimilars, led the surge, supported by the growing competitiveness of South Korean contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) operations. These sectors attracted increased global partnerships, boosting both production volumes and export revenues.
Which South Korean pharma company had the biggest production milestone in 2025?
Celltrion Inc. crossed 3 trillion won (approximately $1.9 billion) in annual drug production in 2025 — a 27.6 percent on-year increase — becoming the first South Korean company to surpass that threshold. Hanmi Pharm Co. was among three other companies that crossed the 1 trillion won production mark.
How does South Korea's pharma growth compare to its overall economy?
The pharmaceutical sector posted an average annual production growth rate of 7.3 percent over the past five years, significantly outpacing South Korea's GDP growth of 4.6 percent over the same period, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
Why did Seoul stocks fall on the same day the pharma data was released?
Seoul stocks fell nearly 3 percent on Thursday due to an overnight selloff in US semiconductor stocks, which pressured South Korean chipmakers. The Korea Exchange (KRX) briefly activated a sell-side sidecar for the KOSPI at around 9:07 am, halting programme trading for five minutes.
