Value of imported pharmaceutical drugs to Japan 2012-2021

In 2021, the value of pharmaceutical drug imports to Japan amounted to over three trillion Japanese yen, representing an increase from approximately 2.9 trillion yen in the previous year.

 Japan’s domestic pharma market

Prescription pharmaceuticals make up more than 90 percent of Japan’s local medical market, reaching over eight trillion Japanese yen in production value, including pharmaceuticals such as antineoplastics, cardiovascular agents, and agents affecting metabolism. Most of Japan’s top ten pharmaceutical producers are local manufacturers, with companies like Takeda Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, and Chugai Pharmaceutical being major global players.

 Pharmaceutical imports to Japan

Despite being one of the biggest medical producers in the world, Japan also relies heavily on pharmaceutical imports. As of 2021, Europe was Japan’s largest supplier of medical drugs, accounting for more than two trillion Japanese yen of the overall import value. Germany and the United States are the major countries importing pharmaceuticals, followed by several European countries like Switzerland, France, and Belgium.
Japan’s high life expectancy rate and diminishing birth numbers are posing an ongoing challenge to the healthcare system. While the country already spends a relatively low percentage of its GDP on healthcare compared to other industrialized nations, the Japanese government is seeking to contain healthcare expenditure even further. These measures are expected to lead to a downward pricing pressure that will harm the local industry’s growth. However, Japan is set to remain one of the most important destinations for foreign pharmaceutical suppliers due to the continuously high demand by its aging population.