COVID-19 risk to import/export of finished dose and APIs minor, say companies

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in demand for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drugs, with several countries even banning the export of essential drugs.

GlobalData has conducted a survey to assess how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting import/export and supply chain risks related to finished dose and APIs in the third quarter (Q3) of 2020, compared to the first quarter (Q1).

Analysis of the survey responses shows that an increasing number of companies are expecting only a minor risk to imports/exports. The respondents expecting just a minor risk increased from 43% in Q1 to 52% in Q3.

Import/export and supply chain risks related to finished dose and APIs

On the other hand, the companies expecting a major risk to API and key materials imports/exports from the pandemic dropped from 35% in Q1 to 32% in Q3.

Similarly, a lesser 8% of the companies in Q3 opined that coronavirus posed a major risk to finished dose and product exports/imports, compared to 14% Q1.

The percentage of companies that anticipated no risk to imports/exports remained unchanged for both the quarters at 8%.

The analysis is based on responses received from the Pharmaceutical Trade and Supply Chain Survey between 07 July and 30 July 2020.