Alkaloid, Macedonia's largest pharmaceuticals company, reported sales of 3,507 billion denars (60 million EUR) in the first half of 2017. That represents an increase of 8 percent compared to the same period last year.
Pre-tax profits were at 649 million denars (10,6 million EUR), an increase of 11 percent, while net profits were at 374 million denars (6,1 million EUR). Sales rose by 7 percent in the domestic market and exports were up by 10 percent. Exports amounted to 61 percent of total sales. Balkan counties acounted for 32 percent of foreign sales, followed by Western Europe with 21 percent and Russia with 7 percent. Greatest increases in sales were reported in the United Kingdom and in Hungary (sales up 18 times). Sales to Russia grew by 24 percent and to Romania by 52 percent.
Drugs were the main selling point for Alkaloid, with 84 percent of total sales, followed by cosmetics and chemicals. The company invested 323 million denars in the first six months of the year and hired 54 additional staff.