PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1951664
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1951664
Cough syrups are liquid medications designed to relieve coughing and related symptoms caused by colds, allergies, or respiratory infections. They contain active ingredients that either suppress the cough reflex (antitussives), help clear mucus from the airways (expectorants), or reduce throat irritation and congestion.
The main types of cough syrups include expectorants, cough suppressants, antihistamines, and combination medications. Expectorants help loosen and clear mucus from the lungs and airways, making it easier to expel. These syrups are categorized by age group into pediatric and adult segments, with common ingredients including dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, codeine, and others. Major distribution channels include pharmacies, online stores, supermarkets or hypermarkets, and more.
Tariffs have affected the cough syrups market by increasing the prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients such as dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and codeine, as well as packaging materials. Combination medications and pediatric formulations are most impacted, especially in Asia-Pacific and Latin America where many raw materials are imported. Pharmacies and online stores face pricing pressures. Positively, tariffs are encouraging local syrup manufacturing and API sourcing, improving supply security.
The cough syrups market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides cough syrups market statistics, including cough syrups industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a cough syrups market share, detailed cough syrups market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cough syrups industry. This cough syrups 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 cough syrups market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.8 billion in 2025 to $7.25 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to seasonal respiratory infections, otc medicine availability, pediatric cold prevalence, pharmacy retail expansion, urban pollution.
The cough syrups market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.3 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to natural ingredient demand, self-medication trends, pediatric healthcare focus, online pharmacy growth, respiratory illness incidence. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for pediatric formulations, growth of herbal and natural cough syrups, expansion of combination medications, increased otc product consumption, focus on sugar-free and alcohol-free syrups.
The increasing prevalence of respiratory disorders is expected to drive the growth of the cough syrups market in the coming years. Respiratory disorders are medical conditions affecting the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system, impairing normal breathing. The rise in respiratory disorders is primarily due to greater exposure to pollutants, allergens, and infections, which has increased demand for fast-acting treatments that provide effective symptom relief. Cough syrups support respiratory care by alleviating cough, soothing throat irritation, and reducing mucus congestion, thereby improving breathing. For instance, in February 2025, according to MedRxiv, a US-based open-access online archive, hospitalizations related to respiratory viruses rose from 9.3% in late December 2024 to 9.6% in late January 2025, representing a 3.1% increase in just one month. Therefore, the rising prevalence of respiratory disorders is fueling the growth of the cough syrups market.
Major companies in the cough syrups market are focusing on developing innovative formulations, such as herbal cough syrups, to meet increasing consumer demand for natural, side-effect-free remedies. Herbal cough syrups are plant-based liquid formulations containing ingredients like tulsi, ginger, and licorice that soothe the throat and relieve cough without synthetic chemicals. For instance, in August 2024, Avalon Pharma, a Saudi Arabia-based pharmaceutical company, launched Co-pan, an innovative herbal cough syrup that is the first and only SFDA-approved product suitable for adults and children from two years of age. This sugar-free and alcohol-free syrup demonstrates proven efficacy and high tolerability, especially for pediatric patients, and includes a child-friendly dosing syringe. The launch underscores Avalon Pharma's commitment to diversifying its product portfolio and strengthening its leadership in the respiratory and herbal medicine segments, aligning with its ongoing growth and innovation strategy in the Kingdom's healthcare sector.
In February 2025, Olympus Partners, a US-based private equity firm, acquired PAI Pharma Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Olympus Partners aims to expand its healthcare-services portfolio by investing in a leading manufacturer of generic oral liquid medicines, supporting PAI's next phase of growth. PAI Pharma Inc. is a US-based healthcare manufacturing company specializing in the development, production, and distribution of generic oral liquid medicines in ready-to-dose cups and bottles.
Major companies operating in the cough syrups market are Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Viatris Inc., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Lupin Limited, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, Abbott Laboratories, P&G Health Ltd., Wockhardt Ltd., Ipca Laboratories Ltd., Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Micro Labs Ltd., Indoco Remedies Ltd., Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., Meyer Organics Pvt. Ltd., Wallace Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.
North America was the largest region in the cough syrup market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the cough syrups market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the cough syrups market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The cough syrups market consists of sales of decongestant syrups, antihistamine-based syrups, and mucolytic syrups. 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 that 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.
Cough Syrups Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses cough syrups 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 cough syrups ? 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 cough syrups 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, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.