United States was the largest outside supplier.
What this market covers
A plant derived drug used in patches and tablets to prevent motion sickness and nausea after surgery. Buyers are pharmacies, hospitals, travellers and drug makers.
Typical segments
- Transdermal patches
- Oral tablets
- Injectable forms
- Active ingredient supply
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value rose 93% 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.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €126.6 million of products under CN code 29397990 (Vegetal alkaloids, natural or reproduced by synthesis, and their salts, ethers, esters) from outside the EU in 2025. | 126.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 29397990 were up 93% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€65.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +93 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29397990 to countries outside the EU were worth €116.0 million in 2025. | 116.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 29397990 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €52.7 million in 2025. | 52.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United States was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 29397990 to the EU in 2025, with €42.5 million, or 34% of extra-EU imports. | 42.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29397990 to the United States were €32.8 million in 2025. | 32.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 29397990 was €21.07 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 21.07 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 29397990 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €37.4 million. | 37.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 900 enterprises in NACE class C2110 (Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products) in 2023. | 900 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2110 had net turnover of €69.39 billion in 2023. | 69.39 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2110 employed 80,119 people across the EU in 2023. | 80,119 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 % since 2020 | 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 61 registered studies for the condition "motion sickness". | 61 registered studies | 2026 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
| 3 of those studies were recruiting participants when checked in November 2026. | 3 recruiting studies | 2026 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
| PubMed indexed 310 papers mentioning "scopolamine" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 310 papers | 2025 | 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 29397990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 126625094
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 65629150; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 126625094
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 115963671
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 52734285
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, partner US, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 42498928
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 32849724
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29397990, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 126625094, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 60104
- 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 29397990, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 37405558
- 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 C2110, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 900
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2110, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 69392
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2110, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 80119
- 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 "motion sickness" (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
query.cond=motion sickness totalCount 61
- Figure 16
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2, condition "motion sickness", status recruiting (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 17
filter.overallStatus=RECRUITING totalCount 3
- Figure 17
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "scopolamine"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 18
esearch count 310
- Figure 18
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Drug manufacturers
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 scopolamine market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €126.6 million of goods under CN 29397990 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €116.0 million.
Where does the EU import scopolamine from?
United States was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included China, Canada, Switzerland.
What is the average import price of scopolamine in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €21.07 per kilogram for CN 29397990 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most scopolamine?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Spain, France.
How many clinical trials study motion sickness?
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 61 registered studies.
How many US companies are in the scopolamine industry?
BLS counts 5,013 private establishments in NAICS 325412 (Pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing), the closest official industry.
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