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Healthcare & Life SciencesEuropean UnionUpdated

Controlled substance Market 2026: trade data and key figures

The EU imported €73.4 million of controlled substance and related goods (CN 293911) from outside the EU in 2025. That was 23% more than in 2020.

+23% since 2020

Extra-EU imports of CN 293911 were up 23% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€59.8 million)

€84.8million

EU exports of CN 293911 to countries outside the EU were worth €84.8 million in 2025

€43.3million

Trade between EU member states in CN 293911 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €43.3 million in 2025

OverviewDataBuyers and suppliersWhat is insideFAQ

Australia was the largest outside supplier.

What this market covers

Drugs whose making, sale and use are restricted by law because of abuse or dependence risk, such as opioids and stimulants. Hospitals, pharmacies and licensed makers handle them under strict records.

Typical segments

  • Opioid analgesics
  • Stimulants
  • Sedatives and benzodiazepines
  • Cannabinoid medicines
ChartExtra-EU imports of CN 293911, EUR million
Extra-EU imports of CN 293911, EUR million0204060802020: 59.8 EUR million59.820202021: 55.6 EUR million55.620212022: 43.4 EUR million43.420222023: 53 EUR million5320232024: 65 EUR million6520242025: 73.4 EUR million73.42025

Source: Eurostat

Why this market is moving now

  • Extra-EU import value rose 23% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
  • Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
  • Clinical research is active, with studies recruiting now.

Key figures

Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.

FigureValueYearSource
The EU imported €73.4 million of products under CN code 293911 (Concentrates of poppy straw; buprenorphine (INN), codeine, dihydrocodeine (INN),) from outside the EU in 2025.73.4 EUR million2025Eurostat
Extra-EU imports of CN 293911 were up 23% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€59.8 million), calculated from Eurostat values.+23 % since 20202025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 293911 to countries outside the EU were worth €84.8 million in 2025.84.8 EUR million2025Eurostat
Trade between EU member states in CN 293911 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €43.3 million in 2025.43.3 EUR million2025Eurostat
Australia was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 293911 to the EU in 2025, with €26.6 million, or 36% of extra-EU imports.26.6 EUR million2025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 293911 to the United States were €26.4 million in 2025.26.4 EUR million2025Eurostat
The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 293911 was €395.96 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight.395.96 EUR per kg2025Eurostat
Spain was the largest EU exporter of CN 293911 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €27.3 million.27.3 EUR million2025Eurostat
The EU had 900 enterprises in NACE class C2110 (Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products) in 2023.900 enterprises2023Eurostat
EU enterprises in NACE class C2110 had net turnover of €69.39 billion in 2023.69.39 EUR billion2023Eurostat
NACE class C2110 employed 80,119 people across the EU in 2023.80,119 persons employed2023Eurostat
The US had 5,013 private establishments in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing) in 2025.5,013 establishments2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
NAICS 325412 employed an average of 229,922 people in US private industry in 2025.229,922 jobs2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
US employment in NAICS 325412 changed by +8% between 2020 (212,670 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures.+8 % since 20202025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Average annual pay in US NAICS 325412 was $158,377 in 2025.158,377 USD per year2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 7,487 registered studies for the condition "substance-related disorders".7,487 registered studies2026U.S. National Library of Medicine
807 of those studies were recruiting participants when checked in November 2026.807 recruiting studies2026U.S. National Library of Medicine
PubMed indexed 102 papers mentioning "controlled substances" in the title or abstract in 2025.102 papers2025U.S. National Library of Medicine

Sources and method

The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.

  1. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 1DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 73402149
    • Figure 2DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 59803282; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 73402149
    • Figure 3DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 84819206
    • Figure 4DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 43283385
    • Figure 5DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, partner AU, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 26640984
    • Figure 6DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 26361947
    • Figure 7DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 293911, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 73402149, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 1854
  2. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 8DS-045409, reporter ES, product 293911, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 27334700
  3. Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 9sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2110, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 900
    • Figure 10sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2110, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 69392
    • Figure 11sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2110, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 80119
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325412, 2025 (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 12QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, annual_avg_estabs 5013
    • Figure 13QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, annual_avg_emplvl 229922
    • Figure 14QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 212670; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 229922
    • Figure 15QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, avg_annual_pay 158377
  5. U.S. National Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, condition "substance-related disorders" (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 16query.cond=substance-related disorders totalCount 7487
  6. U.S. National Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, condition "substance-related disorders", status recruiting (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 17filter.overallStatus=RECRUITING totalCount 807
  7. U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "controlled substances"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 18esearch count 102

Buyers and suppliers

Who buys

  • Hospitals
  • Retail pharmacies
  • Licensed manufacturers

Large non-EU suppliers to the EU

  1. Australia26.6 EUR million
  2. United Kingdom20.8 EUR million
  3. Norway6.2 EUR million
  4. Israel6.1 EUR million
  5. Türkiye5.8 EUR million
  6. Switzerland4.3 EUR million

What the full report covers

  1. 01Executive summary
    The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it
  2. 02Market definition and scope
    What is in and out of the European Union market
  3. 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
    Historical series and growth rates
  4. 04Outlook to 2031
    Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions
  5. 05Rules, policy and deadlines
    Regulation and programmes that change demand
  6. 06Drivers and barriers
    What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment
  7. 07Prices, costs and margins
    Unit economics where public data allows
  8. 08Competitive landscape
    8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves
  9. 09Opportunities and risks
    For new entrants, suppliers and investors
  10. 10Method and sources
    Every assumption and source, listed

Included with the full report

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  • Excel data pack
  • Ready-to-use charts
  • Method note and assumptions
  • Written to order in 5 working days
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Frequently asked questions

How big is the EU controlled substance market?

There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €73.4 million of goods under CN 293911 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €84.8 million.

Where does the EU import controlled substance from?

Australia was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United Kingdom, Norway, Israel.

What is the average import price of controlled substance in the EU?

Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €395.96 per kilogram for CN 293911 in 2025.

Which EU countries export the most controlled substance?

Spain led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Czechia, France.

How many clinical trials study substance-related disorders?

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 7,487 registered studies.

How many US companies are in the controlled substance industry?

BLS counts 5,013 private establishments in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing), the closest official industry.

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