This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 6/3/2019

Overview
With more than 50 pharmaceutical importers, Lebanon is the leading market for imported pharmaceutical drugs in the Levant.  The pharmaceutical market in Lebanon is valued at over $1.3 billion, with potential annual growth of more than five percent.  Patented drugs constitute around 50 percent of the market, and over-the-counter (OTC) and generic drugs constitute around 25 percent each.  Lebanon-based pharmaceutical production is weak due to high local production costs.  As a result, imports constitute over 95 percent of the total available pharmaceutical products in the market. 
According to the Lebanese Customs Authority, total pharmaceutical imports into Lebanon reached $1.329 billion in 2018, of which $151 million were imported from the United States.  Local production covers seven percent of market demand and is mainly focused on manufacturing drugs under license for international companies.  Lebanon’s main sources of pharmaceutical imports are France (13.9%), Germany (14.25%), the United States (8.24%), Italy (7%), Ireland (5.43%), and Switzerland (6.88%). 
High production costs, a weak regulatory framework, and counterfeit drugs are the main challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in Lebanon. 
A large portion of Lebanon’s population receives health care from the Ministry of Public Health, which purchases pharmaceutical from local importers, offers them to patients, and reimburses hospital bills.
Table 4: Pharmaceuticals

 

2017

2018

2019 (Estimate)

2020 (Projection)

Total Local Production

$19 million

$19 million

$19 million

$19 million

Total Exports

$52 million

$57 million

$36 million

$36 million

Total Imports

$1.288 billion

$1.329 billion

$1.230 billion

$1.230 billion

Imports from the U.S.

$143 million

$151 million

$144 million

$144 million

Total Market Size

$1.255 billion

$1.291 billion

$1.213 billion

$1.213 billion

Exchange Rates

LBP1507.5

LBP1507.5

LBP1507.5

LBP1507.5

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)

Units: $ U.S. Dollars, LBP Lebanese Pounds

Source: Lebanese Customs statistics –Chapter 30

Leading Sub-Sectors
According to local experts, U.S. pharmaceutical products have an advantage over European and Asian products in the biotechnology, high-tech, anti-cancer, and cardiovascular fields.  Moreover, new leading American drugs that are not yet manufactured in Europe are typically well received in Lebanon.

Opportunities
There are no specific opportunities or trade events in Lebanon geared to promote U.S. pharmaceutical products.  The U.S. Commercial Service provides a wide range of services, including Gold Key Service (GKS) and International Partnership Search (IPS), which help U.S. companies explore opportunities in Lebanon.

Web Resources

Ministry of Public Health

Lebanese Customs Administration

U.S. Commercial Service

Contact for the Commercial Section that covers the pharmaceuticals/drugs sector: Naaman Tayyar, Head of Commercial Section, Email: Naaman.Tayyar@trade.gov.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.