In this quarter, sales totaled approximately 2 billion dollars. The increase was mainly influenced by an increase in pharmaceutical exports at a dollar rate of about 18%
"In the first quarter of 2011, the exports of the life sciences industry amounted to about 2 billion dollars, a dollar increase of about 17% compared to the same period last year. The increase is due to an increase in the export of the pharmaceutical industry at a rate of about 18% which amounted to about 1.6 billion dollars; In the field of medical and surgical equipment, there was an increase of about 11% and it amounted to about 340 million dollars." This is what Avi Hefetz, CEO of the Export Institute, said, based on the data of the Economic Unit at the Export Institute compiled for the week of "ILSI - Biomed Israel 2011", the main annual event of the life sciences industry in Israel that will be held between May 23 and 25 at the David Intercontinental in Tel Aviv.
From the analysis of the export data of the life sciences branch by geographical distribution in the first quarter of 2011, it appears that about 75% of all exports, amounting to about 1.5 billion dollars, are directed to North America, an increase of about 29% compared to the same period last year. Exports to the European Union amounted to about 289 million dollars, a decrease of about 17% compared to the same period last year, the sector's exports constitute about 15% of the life sciences sector's exports.
Exports to South and Central America were about 2% of the total exports of the life sciences industry and amounted to about 32 million dollars, unchanged compared to the same period last year. Exports to Asia amounted to approximately 89 million dollars, an increase of approximately 18% compared to the same period last year, exports to Asia constitute approximately 5% of the industry's total exports. The industry's exports to Africa amounted to about 7.5 million dollars, and constituted only about 0.4% of all the industry's exports during this period.
It should be noted that in 2010 the exports of the life sciences industry amounted to about 8 billion dollars, a dollar increase of about 34% compared to the same period last year. The increase is due to a 42% increase in pharmaceutical exports, which last year amounted to approximately 6.6 billion dollars. In the field of medical equipment and devices, there was an increase of about 10% and it amounted to about 1.4 billion dollars.
A geographical breakdown of the industry's exports in 2010 shows that about 67% of all exports, which amounted to about 5.4 billion dollars, were directed to North America. Exports to the European Union amounted to approximately 2 billion dollars, and constituted 24% of all exports of the life sciences industry. Exports to South and Central America were about 2% of the entire life sciences industry and amounted to about 131 million dollars, exports to Asia amounted to about 342 million dollars, and constituted about 4% of the industry's total exports.
In the field of life sciences there are approximately 282 companies that exported over 100 thousand dollars in 2009: 37 exporters that exported an amount of over 10 million dollars, 51 exporters that exported an amount between 2 and 10 million dollars, and 194 small exporters that exported an amount between $100,000 to $2 million.
The "ILSI-Biomed Israel 2011" week will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, during which it became an international conference in which the biggest (and hottest) names in the world from the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices take part every year. The organizers of the event, the Israeli Life Sciences Association - ILSI - and the "Kens" company, estimate that among the thousands of expected participants - CEOs and executives of biopharma and medical device companies, scientists and researchers, entrepreneurs, shapers of public opinion in the field, managers of venture capital funds and private investors - There will also be over 1,000 guests from abroad.
