PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1810900
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1810900
Generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing involves outsourcing the production of generic medications to external manufacturers. These third-party providers offer a range of services, including formulation development, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, manufacturing of tablets or injectables, packaging, and regulatory assistance. This approach enables pharmaceutical companies to lower production costs and concentrate on their core business areas.
The primary drug categories in generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing are branded generics and unbranded generics. Branded generics are off-patent medications marketed under a proprietary brand name, although they contain the same active components as the original branded drugs. Product types include pharmaceutical APIs, formulations, capsules, tablets, and injectables. These products are delivered through various routes of administration such as oral, parenteral, topical, and others. They serve multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, antidiabetics, neurology, anticoagulants, cardiovascular, respiratory, pain management, and HIV antivirals, and are used by a wide range of end-users like pharmaceutical firms, contract research organizations, biotechnology companies, and generic drug manufacturers.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the pharmaceutical companies contend with tariffs on APIs, glass vials, and lab equipment inputs with few alternative sources. Generic drug makers, operating on razor-thin margins, are especially vulnerable, with some reducing production of low-profit medicines. Biotech firms face delays in clinical trials due to tariff-related shortages of specialized reagents. In response, the industry is expanding API production in India and Europe, increasing inventory stockpiles, and pushing for trade exemptions for essential medicines.
The generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market statistics, including generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market share, detailed generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing industry. This generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $62.30 billion in 2024 to $66.82 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth observed during the historic period can be attributed to the rising demand for affordable medications, increased healthcare spending in developing nations, a surge in patent expirations of branded pharmaceuticals, greater outsourcing activities by drug manufacturers, and a growing prevalence of chronic illnesses.
The generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $87.59 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.0%. The projected growth in the forecast period can be attributed to an increasing emphasis on specialty generics, enhanced government initiatives promoting the use of generic drugs, broader healthcare access in emerging markets, rising investments in contract manufacturing infrastructure, and a heightened demand for scalable and adaptable production solutions. Key trends anticipated during this period include progress in manufacturing automation, the adoption of advanced quality control technologies, the development of complex generic formulations, innovations in drug delivery systems, and advancements in continuous manufacturing techniques.
The increasing demand for biosimilars is anticipated to drive the growth of the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market. Biosimilars are biologic medical products that closely resemble approved reference biologics, showing no clinically significant differences in terms of safety, purity, or potency. This demand is largely fueled by their potential to offer more affordable alternatives to high-cost biologic drugs, thereby improving access to advanced treatments for patients and easing the financial burden on healthcare systems. Generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing plays a crucial role in this space by offering cost-efficient, large-scale production and the regulatory know-how necessary for timely market entry and quality consistency. For example, as of January 2022, the United States had 33 FDA-approved biosimilar products, 21 of which were available on the market, according to Cardinal Health Inc. By January 2023, the number of approved biosimilars had grown to 40, with 25 being commercially available. This increasing demand for biosimilars is contributing significantly to the expansion of the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing sector.
Leading companies in the generic pharmaceutical contract manufacturing space are expanding their capabilities by creating dedicated subsidiaries. These subsidiaries are designed to enhance the development and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), ensuring regulatory compliance, scalability, and operational efficiency throughout the drug development process. For instance, in July 2025, Lupin, an Indian generic pharmaceutical firm, launched Lupin Manufacturing Solutions (LMS), a new subsidiary aimed at entering the contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market. This specialized unit supports API development, production, and sales for global pharmaceutical partners. Led by professionals with extensive experience in biotech and pharma, LMS is set to provide high-quality contract services that help pharmaceutical companies bring products to market faster while upholding regulatory and cost standards.
In April 2024, Bora Pharmaceuticals, a CDMO based in Taiwan, acquired Upsher-Smith Laboratories for $210 million. This acquisition added substantial capacity and expertise to Bora's operations, enhancing its capabilities across the full pharmaceutical value chain-including drug development, manufacturing, quality control, packaging, and distribution. Upsher-Smith Laboratories is a U.S.-based company that offers contract manufacturing services for generic pharmaceuticals.
Major players in the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market are Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Sandoz International GmbH, Fresenius Kabi AG, WuXi AppTec Co. Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla Limited, Recipharm AB, Siegfried Holding AG, Curia Global Inc., Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited., Piramal Pharma Solutions, Laurus Labs Limited., Cambrex Corp., Pfizer CentreOne, Syngene International Ltd., Wockhardt Ltd., Alcami Corp. Inc, Neuland Laboratories Limited., Panacea Biotec Ltd., and Jubilant Generics Ltd.
North America was the largest region in the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market consists of sales of creams, syrups, sterile formulations, topical medications, and high-potency generic drugs. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values and are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Generic Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The generic pharmaceuticals contract manufacturing market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.