In 2010-11 pharmaceuticals were one of Australia’s major manufactured exports with exports over $3.8 billion. The industry employed an estimated 41,000 people including in sales and distribution (with 13,375 in manufacturing) and spent around $1.002 billion on R&D in 2009-10. In 2010-11, the pharmaceuticals industry received $6.4 billion from PBS sales. Sales of complementary medicines are worth around $1.9 billion a year.
Pharmaceuticals Industry Turnover in Australia
Source: IBIS World, Pharmaceuticals Product Manufacturing in Australia, 2011. ABS Cat no 53.68, International Trade in Goods and Services Australia. ABS, Cat 8624. Retail and Wholesale Industry, 2005-06.
Text description for the Pharmaceuticals industry turnover in Australia graph.
Pharmaceuticals Exports from Australia
Source: ABS Cat no 53.68, International Trade in Goods and Services Australia.
Text description for the Pharmaceuticals exports from Australia graph.
Key Statistics: Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing in Australia
| Selected key statistics |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
| Employment at end of June(no.) |
14,610 |
14,240 |
14,307 |
14,000 |
13,650 |
13,400 |
13,375 |
| Exports($m) |
2,921.0 |
3,427.4 |
3,760.0* |
3,944.0* |
4,028.2* |
4,121.3* |
3,811.5* |
| Imports($m) |
8,970.4 |
8,972.4 |
9,302.6 |
9,139.2 |
9,834.9 |
10,000 |
10,470 |
Sources: IBISWorld,
Pharmaceuticals Product Manufacturing in Australia, 2011.
* Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) International Merchandise Trade Export and Import Data.
Note: $ in current price.
Growth in Pharmaceuticals BERD v Growth in BERD in Australia
Source: ABS, Cat. No. 8104.0, 1999-2010.
BERD: Business Expenditure in R&D.
Text description for the Growth in pharmaceuticals business expenditure in research and development (BERD) v growth in BERD in Australia graph.
Pharmaceuticals Industry Employment in Australia-updating
Source: ABS, Cat. No. 8104.0, 2006-07; ABS unpublished data. IBIS World, Pharmaceuticals Product Manufacturing in Australia, 2010; IBIS World Pharmaceuticals Wholesaling in Australia, 2010; DIISR, Biotech Business indicators, 2008.
Text description for the Pharmaceuticals industry employment in Australia-updating graph.
Highest PBS Suppliers by Market Share (Scripts), 2010-11 (%)
Source: PBPA, Annual Report 2010-2011.
Text description for the Highest PBS suppliers by market share (scripts), 2010-2011 chart.