Ammon News - The pharmaceutical industry extended its export growth trajectory last year, with exports of pharmaceutical preparations rising 5.1 percent to JD 642 million, up from JD 611 million in 2024, according to foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics.

The expansion reflects strengthening external demand for Jordanian medicines and underscores the sector’s role as one of the Kingdom’s highest value-added export industries.

Representative of the Therapeutic Industries and Medical Supplies Sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Dr. Fadi Atrash, said the growth was primarily demand-driven, pointing to rising orders from international markets. He noted that the industry has begun to translate sustained royal engagement into tangible commercial outcomes, particularly following high-level visits to several Asian economies experiencing structural growth in pharmaceutical consumption.

Atrash described the pharmaceutical sector as a strategic pillar within Jordan’s industrial base, combining export orientation, technological upgrading and regulatory compliance. The Kingdom now manufactures more than 4,500 pharmaceutical products, a significant scale-up compared with earlier years, reflecting deepening industrial capacity and product diversification.

He said companies continue to reinvest in capacity expansion, production-line upgrades and advanced manufacturing technologies, alongside research-driven product development. This investment cycle has reinforced cost efficiency, quality standards and competitive positioning in export markets.

The human pharmaceutical manufacturing sector comprises 30 facilities across the Kingdom, with registered capital of approximately JD 350 million. The industry generates around 10,000 direct jobs, with women representing 35 percent of the workforce, highlighting its contribution to skilled employment and female labor participation.

According to Atrash, the sector’s annual production capacity stands at roughly JD 1.5 billion, indicating substantial headroom for export scaling. The industry’s operating model centers on branded generic medicines, enabling price competitiveness while maintaining compliance with stringent international regulatory frameworks.

Jordanian manufacturers produce a broad therapeutic portfolio spanning chronic diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, neurological and psychiatric disorders, allergies, and gastrointestinal treatments. Production capabilities cover multiple dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, injectables, and topical formulations, enhancing flexibility across global market requirements.

Atrash also emphasized the institutional role of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration in accelerating product registration, enforcing good manufacturing practices, and facilitating market access for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and nutritional supplements. These regulatory efficiencies, he said, have strengthened the sector’s integration into global supply chains and supported its expansion into 85 export markets.

The latest figures reinforce the pharmaceutical industry’s position as a foreign-currency-generating sector with scalable capacity and rising global demand exposure, positioning it as a key contributor to Jordan’s industrial growth and export diversification strategy. Petra