The Indian pharma industry was dominated by imported machines during the sixties and seventies The move from being an import-dependent sector to indigenous engineering companies received an impetus due to foreign exchange shortages. The government imposed heavy import duties and restrictive import licensing policies. which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because thts brought to the fore India's own engineering minds. who soon started making pharma machinery at much more cost effective rates.
Current scenario:
Is the Indian pharma engineering and machinery sector a net exporter?
Are there certain segments where we still need to import machinery?
In value terms, there are more machines being imported today than exported. but in terms of quantity, it is reverse This is because imported machines are more than seven to eight times the value of the Indian machines. We still do not make machines requiring high technology and also lab equipment required for R&D labs, therefore we still need to import these machines.
Reason for not manufacturing selected machines:
Those who import pharma machinery are setting up world class facilities to export products / formulations, therefore they need to have imported machines as these meet these standards. This is a niche market.
