Increasing trend towards pharmaceuticals

The Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry shows a rapid and significant development into high-value specialties. In particular the pharmaceuticals have gained importance: their share of the total export of the industry has increased since 1980 from 40 % to 81 %.

From 1980 to 2010 exports of pharmaceuticals, vitamies and diagnostics have risen from 100 % to over 1540 %. In the other specialties aeras the growth has been more moderate with increases from 130 % to 350 %. (Beginning with 1988 pharmaceutical and crop protection intermediates are also included in the export figures, reducing the share of organic products).