Slovenian pharmaceutical giant Krka Group recorded its best first half sales result to date as it sold €680.5mn worth of products and services in the first half of 2018, up €25.4mn or 4% compared to the first half of last year, the company announced on July 5.

Krka is one of Slovenia’s main exporters and it significantly contributes to the country’s trade with countries outside the EU. Russia is Krka’s largest individual market, where the Slovenian company managed to further strengthen its status as a domestic manufacturer. Krka says this is made possible by its manufacturing plant Krka-Rus 2, which was upgraded and expanded in 2017.

Krka’s sales in H1 increased in all regions. The largest sales region was Eastern Europe, accounting for 32.1% of the Krka Group sales. Sales there reached €218.4mn, up €4.4mn or 2% compared to the same period last year. In Russia, Krka's largest individual market, sales reached €153.2mn, which is 2% lower than in the same period last year, while the value of sales, expressed in local currency, increased by 12%. In most other markets in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, growth was recorded.

In terms of sales, the second largest region was Central Europe, where sales were €161.5mn or 23.7% of the Krka Group sales, up €7.1mn or 5% compared to the same period last year. Sales in Poland, Krka's largest market in the region, amounted to €74.7mn, 2% more than in the same period last year. 

In H1, Krka’s product sales in Western Europe amounted to €146mn, accounting for a 21.5% share of the group sales, up €2.8mn or 2% compared to the same period last year. The highest growth was recorded in the Scandinavian countries, Italy and Spain, and the Benelux countries. 

Meanwhile, sales in Southeast Europe reached €88.4mn, accounting for 13% of the Krka Group sales. Sales increased by €8.6mn or 11% compared to the same period last year. The highest growth was recorded in Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. 

Sales on the domestic market saw 3% growth and totalled €44.4mn. Sales in the Slovenian market represented a 6.5% share of the Krka Group sales. 

Product sales in overseas markets amounted to €21.8mn (up 6%), accounting for 3.2% of the Krka Group sales. 

According to the newest data, Krka’s sales in markets outside Slovenia reached €636.1mn in H1 and accounted for 93% of the Krka Group sales. Sales volume amounted to more than 7bn units (tablets, capsules, injections, etc.), a 6% increase over the same period last year.