CSE

Most listed drug manufacturers in Bangladesh posted double-digit year-on-year profit growth in the first nine months through March, supported by rising demand, efficient cost management, and a stable forex market.

Market analysts attributed the growth to higher sales volumes, improved operational efficiency, and sustained demand for medicines both domestically and in export markets.

The sector’s performance stands out at a time when many other industries-including multinational companies-are grappling with elevated operating costs amid persistent inflationary pressure.

“Sales of lifesaving drugs increased due to strong local demand, while leading companies successfully managed to keep operating costs lower,” Salim Afzal Shawon, head of research at BRAC EPL Stockbrokerage, told The Financial Express over the phone.

The growing population, coupled with rising awareness of healthcare needs, has amplified demand for generic medicines in the local market, particularly for chronic diseases.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic has further underscored the importance of healthcare, leading to a heightened focus on medical preparedness and infrastructure, which in turn has positively impacted the pharmaceutical industry.

“People now prioritise healthcare spending more than before, which is contributing to higher sales and profitability,” said Mr Shawon.

This resilience allows leading pharmaceutical companies to sustain strong revenue and profit growth, he added.

Combined profits of eight major drug manufacturers rose nearly 14 per cent year-on-year to Tk 27.22 billion during July-March of FY26. Over the same period, total sales increased 13 per cent year-on-year to Tk 155 billion.

Among the eight, Techno Drugs and Silco Pharma saw their profits decline, mainly due to lower sales and higher finance costs.

Silco Pharma’s profit fell 19 per cent year-on-year in the nine months through March, as its finance costs more than doubled to Tk 170 million due to increased borrowing.

Techno Drugs’ profit also dropped 16 per cent due to lower sales and higher tax expenses. Its sales declined 10 per cent year-on-year, while tax expenses surged 19 per cent during July-March FY26 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Beximco Pharma and Navana Pharma have yet to publish their third-quarter financial results.

Overall, the pharmaceutical sector has remained resilient despite broader economic challenges such as inflationary pressure and rising production costs.

Square Pharma, the country’s largest drug maker, posted a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in profit to Tk 20.64 billion for the nine months through March. Revenue rose 12.5 per cent to Tk 65.08 billion.

The company attributed the sustained growth to several factors, including rising domestic demand for healthcare products, export earnings, and income from subsidiaries.

Square Pharma’s local sales grew by more than 9 per cent, while revenue from its Kenya subsidiary rose 4.5 per cent year-on-year during the period.

The company also reduced its finance costs by 55 per cent, supported by the partial repayment of long-term loans.

“The drug maker continues to grow in both sales and profit owing to strong consumer trust in its products,” said Akramul Alam, head of research at Royal Capital.

He highlighted Square Pharma’s competitive edge in producing high-quality generic medicines at relatively low costs, supporting its long-term growth trajectory.

Another leading drug manufacturer, Renata, posted 28 per cent year-on-year profit growth in the first nine months through March, driven by strong operating profit and reduced finance costs following a capital restructuring initiative.

“Profitability improved on the back of better gross margins, efficient procurement, and tight control over expenses, including lower financing costs through major capital restructuring,” said the company.

“We successfully lowered finance costs by deploying the proceeds from preference share issuance to retire high-cost debts, a move that has structurally reduced our interest burden going forward,” Mustafa Alim Aolad, chief financial officer of Renata, told The Financial Express over the phone recently.

Renata’s domestic sales, which account for almost 74 per cent of total revenue, grew by more than 10 per cent, while export revenue rose 5 per cent, aided by a wave of international regulatory approvals.

Beacon Pharmaceuticals recorded the highest profit growth among its peers, registering a 59 per cent year-on-year increase. The growth was driven by higher sales, lower input costs, efficient production planning, and prudent financial management, the company said.

IBN Sina Pharmaceutical Industry also posted strong results, with profit rising 33 per cent and sales increasing 18 per cent, backed by solid operational performance.

Meanwhile, although Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) remained in the red, its pharmaceutical segment posted 21 per cent year-on-year sales growth during the period under review. Its consolidated losses shrank to Tk 71 million in July-March of FY26, one-eleventh of the losses recorded during the same period of the previous year.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, which meets 98 per cent of local demand, remains one of the country’s success stories, having recorded remarkable growth in recent years.

Export performance has also remained steady. Pharmaceutical exports reached $170.67 million in the first nine months of FY26, marking growth of more than 3 per cent, driven largely by demand from Asian markets such as Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Mr Alam said that with continued investment, regulatory compliance, and a growing skilled workforce, the local pharmaceutical sector is poised not only to sustain but also to accelerate export growth in the coming years.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock/bangladesh/stocks-open-higher-after-recent-fall