China's Exports of Pharmaceuticals

China's imports and exports of pharmaceuticals¹ amounted to US$25.64 billion in 2005, imports was US$11.84 billion, up by 18.5%, and export was US$13.8 billion, up by 28.1%.

　　In the exports of pharmaceuticals, exports of western medicine amounted to US$12.97 billion, including raw material, prepared medicine, bio-medicine, medical appliances and surgical² dressing³, accounting⁴ for 94% of total exports. Raw material of western medicine was also the biggest exports and amounted to US$7.9 billion, accounting for 57.3% of the total; exports of medical appliance reached US$3.68 billion, accounting for 26.7%; exports of bio-medicine increased most fast and was US$480 million, up by 50.85; exports of prepared medicine was US$380 million, up by 22.3% and exports of surgical dressing was US$530 MILLION, UP BY 19.5%.

　　Export of traditional Chinese medicine was US$830 million in total, including material, and prepared medicine & extract, accounting for 6% of the total exports of pharmaceuticals. Exports of Chinese medicine extract increased most fast and reached US$290 million, up by 31.2%; exports of prepared medicine was US$150 million, up by 10.3% and exports of herbal Chinese medicine was US$380 million, up by 6.0%