According to Precedence Research, the global pharmaceutical manufacturing market was valued at 576.54 billion US dollars in 2024. In 2025, it is projected to reach 649.76 billion US dollars, and by 2034, it is expected to exceed approximately 1.9 trillion US dollars. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period from 2024 to 2034 is estimated at 12.7%. Key drivers of this growth include the rising use of highly potent pharmaceutical ingredients, advancements in manufacturing technologies, and growing demand for precision medicine.
In 2024, oncology emerged as the leading therapeutic segment in terms of market share. Tablets led among dosage forms, while oral drugs dominated by route of administration. In terms of development type, proprietary drug formulations generated the highest revenue share in 2024.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to optimize operations. These technologies can enhance drug discovery and development, streamline production, and improve supply chain management — ultimately increasing product quality and operational efficiency while maintaining regulatory compliance.
As of 2024, North America remained the largest regional market for pharmaceutical manufacturing, accounting for 32% of the global total. It was followed by Europe (27%), the Asia-Pacific region (23%), Latin America (10%), and the Middle East and Africa (8%).
Pharmaceutical output in Kazakhstan is also on the rise, although growth rates vary. In January–May of this year, the country produced pharmaceutical products and medicines worth 79.2 billion tenge — a 4% increase in value terms compared to the same period last year. This included 2.9 billion tenge worth of basic pharmaceutical products (up 16.4% year-on-year) and 76.3 billion tenge worth of pharmaceutical preparations and medical materials (up 3.5%).
Regionally, the highest output was recorded in Shymkent, with 29.5 billion tenge. It was followed by the Almaty Region (20.2 billion tenge, up 18.5%) and the Karaganda Region (13.8 billion tenge, down 11.9%). These three regions together accounted for 80.2% of the national pharmaceutical output.
Kazakhstan is also introducing digital solutions in healthcare, including AI-powered diagnostics and personalized assistants, and is creating a centralized medical data repository. At the same time — at least according to official statements — the country is strengthening the localization of pharmaceutical production: investment incentives are in place, drug registration timelines have been cut to 100 working days, and 90 long-term contracts have been signed with 34 manufacturers. The government has also partnered with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Roche and other global companies to facilitate technology transfer and workforce training.
What about prices? Unfortunately, there is little cause for optimism. As of May this year, pharmaceutical products rose in price by 0.6% month-on-month and by 7.7% year-on-year.
At the regional level, the sharpest monthly increase was recorded in Zhambyl Region, where prices grew by 1.9%. The smallest rise was observed in Turkistan Region, East Kazakhstan Region, and Almaty — just 0.1% in each. Prices in Zhetysu Region remained unchanged compared to the previous month.
Year-on-year, the highest price growth was recorded in Turkistan Region (9.2%), East Kazakhstan Region (9.1%), and Karaganda Region (8.9%). The lowest increase was noted in Pavlodar Region — 3.5%.
Kazakhstan has traditionally relied heavily on imports of pharmaceutical products. In the first four months of the current year, the country imported 9.9 thousand tonnes of medicines worth 735.7 million US dollars. This represents a 6.7% decline in physical volume, while the value of imports rose by 23.9%.
Imports from CIS countries totaled 3.3 thousand tonnes, down 18.7% compared to the same period last year. The largest volumes came from Russia (2.7 thousand tonnes), Belarus (333.9 tonnes), Ukraine (274 tonnes), Uzbekistan (32.7 tonnes), and Moldova (22.9 tonnes).
From non-CIS countries, Kazakhstan imported 6.6 thousand tonnes of medicines — 0.9% more than a year earlier. The largest volume came from China — 1.8 thousand tonnes, up from 1.2 thousand tonnes the previous year. India ranked second (701.4 tonnes, down 17.6%), followed by Germany (686.4 tonnes, down 22.3%).
