What this market covers
Drugs used to treat cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx and nearby areas, including chemotherapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy. Hospitals and cancer centers give them with surgery and radiation.
Typical segments
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiosensitizers
- Supportive care drugs
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +22% 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.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +8% since 2020.
- 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.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €43.70 billion of products under CN code 30049000 (Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic) from outside the EU in 2025. | 43.70 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 30049000 were up 22% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€35.71 billion), calculated from Eurostat values. | +22 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30049000 to countries outside the EU were worth €131.19 billion in 2025. | 131.19 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 30049000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €126.83 billion in 2025. | 126.83 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Switzerland was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 30049000 to the EU in 2025, with €16.90 billion, or 39% of extra-EU imports. | 16.90 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30049000 to the United States were €34.22 billion in 2025. | 34.22 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 30049000 was €191.50 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 191.50 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 30049000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €28.29 billion. | 28.29 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 3,116 enterprises in NACE class C2120 (Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations) in 2023. | 3,116 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2120 had net turnover of €428.65 billion in 2023. | 428.65 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2120 employed 600,730 people across the EU in 2023. | 600,730 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 5,013 private establishments in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing) in 2025. | 5,013 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325412 employed an average of 229,922 people in US private industry in 2025. | 229,922 jobs | 2025 | U.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 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325412 was $158,377 in 2025. | 158,377 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| ClinicalTrials.gov lists 8,806 registered studies for the condition "head and neck cancer". | 8,806 registered studies | 2026 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
| 1,499 of those studies were recruiting participants when checked in November 2026. | 1,499 recruiting studies | 2026 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 43695558940
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 35709786627; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 43695558940
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 131185154269
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 126825956826
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, partner CH, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 16895691702
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 34222978526
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30049000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 43695558940, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 2281695
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DE, product 30049000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 28285380845
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 3116
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 428651
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2120, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 600730
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325412, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, annual_avg_estabs 5013
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, annual_avg_emplvl 229922
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 212670; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 229922
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325412, avg_annual_pay 158377
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, condition "head and neck cancer" (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
query.cond=head and neck cancer totalCount 8806
- Figure 16
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, condition "head and neck cancer", status recruiting (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 17
filter.overallStatus=RECRUITING totalCount 1499
- Figure 17
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Cancer centers
- Hospitals
- Specialty pharmacies
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU head and neck cancer therapeutics market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €43.70 billion of goods under CN 30049000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €131.19 billion.
Where does the EU import head and neck cancer therapeutics from?
Switzerland was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United States, United Kingdom, Canada.
What is the average import price of head and neck cancer therapeutics in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €191.50 per kilogram for CN 30049000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most head and neck cancer therapeutics?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Slovenia, Ireland.
How many clinical trials study head and neck cancer?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 8,806 registered studies.
How many US companies are in the head and neck cancer therapeutics industry?
BLS counts 5,013 private establishments in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing), the closest official industry.
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