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From Local to Global: India’s Evolution as a Pharma Powerhouse

India’s strategic role in the pharmaceutical industry is evident, given its expansive size and diverse capabilities. This unique combination positions the country as an ideal hub for pharmaceutical production and distribution. India boasts a sophisticated infrastructure for packaging and shipping pharmaceuticals year-round, ensuring timely access to essential medicines and drugs.

With the current pharmaceutical market valued at $50 billion and expected to double by 2030, India’s reputation as the pharmacy of the world is fully earned. Ranking third in global production, India contributes a substantial 20% of the world’s medicine supply, significantly advancing global healthcare.

Amidst the global COVID-19 crisis, India emerged as the sole supplier of vaccines within just three weeks into the pandemic. Through efforts to optimize production and capacity of medications, from generic to specialized treatments, India ensured maximum availability when every second counted.

Exploring India’s Impact on the US Pharma Sector

When it comes to pharmaceutical exports out of India, the United States still remains one of the country’s largest markets. The India-US trade has been experiencing an annual growth rate of 12.5%, with projections indicating a potential doubling of volumes within the next 8 years. Both prior to and post-COVID, the outlook for US exports from India has remained highly promising, with pharmaceutical exports to the US showing consistent upward trends.

As a time-sensitive commodity, pharmaceuticals deserve extra care, attention, and a fitting service to ensure they arrive safely at their final destination. With the ZIM New Frontier (ZNF) service heading to key markets in the US East Coast including Norfolk, New York and Savannah, pharmaceuticals are certainly in safe hands.

Looking ahead, recent shifts in market dynamics, alongside India’s growth and its pivotal role as a hub for pharmaceuticals, signal further growth opportunities for ZIM to expand its presence not only within the US sector, but also in Europe and the West.

Making Waves in the Pharma Market

ZIM stands ready to transport all types of pharmaceutical products, with no limit on cargo value. We’ve tailored specific verticals to address the unique needs of our pharmaceutical customers while providing solutions that align with their goals.

Our ZIM India Sales Manager, Santosh Namboodiri explains how this commitment drives innovation: “While others sit on challenges, we’re focused on crafting solutions. Take, for instance, our ZIMonitor technology, born out of a specific customer need nearly 8 years ago. Today, it stands as a cornerstone for almost every cold-chain customer, especially considering that every new unit added to our refrigerated fleet comes equipped with ZIMonitor technology.”

The emphasis on visibility isn’t just a minor detail within our operations – it’s a testament to the confidence we have in the services we offer. Santoosh adds, “Transparency means that we take full responsibility of your cargo, from pick up to its final destination, ZIM offers real-time visibility into your shipment’s status, keeping you informed every step of the way.”

In a sector often characterized as traditional, ZIM has redefined itself as an organization driven not by standard systems or manual processes, but by direct communication and a personal touch. Santosh Namboodiri shines a well-deserved spotlight on ZIM India’s teams: “We believe in engaging with our customers in every facet of our operations. The differentiation in what we offer is simple: every member of our team, from customer service to sales and operations, is directly engaged with our customers. It’s personal touch that defines our unique approach.”

Santosh Namboodiri

ZIM India Senior Sales Manager
namboodiri.santosh@zim.com