Algeria's import bill of pharmaceutical products totalled US$1.02 billion during the first five months of 2014, against US$758.6 million during the same period a year earlier, up by 34.85%, said Algeria Customs' National Centre of Data Processing and Statistics (CNIS).
In term of quantity, Algeria imported 11,263 tonnes against 14,833 tonnes during the same period of reference, down by over 24%, according to the figures provided by CNIS.
The increase in import bill was mainly due to the 36 percent rise in the import of medicines for human use, according to the CNIS.
The import bill of medicines for human use, which represented 96% of Algeria's overall import of pharmaceutical products during the same period of reference, amounted to US$ 982.17 million, against US$ 722.46 million during the same period of reference, up by 35.94%, the source said.
In terms of quantity, Algeria imported 10,524 tonnes from January to May 2014, against 13,963 tonnes during the same period in 2013, down 24.62%.
Imports of pharmaceutical products increased by nearly 19.31% in terms of value during the same period of reference, moving from US$27.71 million to US$23.22 million, and dropped by 8.08% in terms of quantity, from 537 tonnes down to 494 tonnes, said the CNIS.
As regards medicines for veterinary use, Algeria's sales abroad dropped by 1.62%, totalling US$ 13.12 million against US$ 12.91 million during the same period of reference, the source said.