Biologics made up about 73 percent of the country's $9 billion in total drug exports over the period, according to preliminary data.
Third-quarter shipments rose 15.6 percent to $2.07 billion, even as September exports dipped on fewer working days.
Seven of the 10 largest export destinations were European.
Shipments to Switzerland jumped 27.3 percent to $1.01 billion and those to Hungary rose 28 percent to $920 million, while exports to France nearly quadrupled to $200 million.
The United States remained the single largest market at $1.07 billion, but exports there tumbled 23.7 percent, or about $340 million. The ministry said the decline was largely due to weaker shipments of recombinant drugs.
"Expanded contract development and manufacturing supply to global drugmakers in the European market and rising demand for biosimilars can be seen as the main drivers," the ministry said.
Recombinant drugs, which include antibody therapies and biosimilars, accounted for 86.5 percent of biopharmaceutical exports at $5.71 billion.
The nine-month total already exceeds 85 percent of last year's record annual exports of $7.64 billion.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea's biopharmaceutical exports reached a record $6.6 billion in January-September 2026, up 15.8% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on Oct. 8, 2026.
- Seven of Korea's top 10 biopharmaceutical export markets in that period were European, and exports to the United States fell 23.7% to $1.07 billion.
- The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said the main drivers in Europe were greater contract manufacturing supply to global drugmakers and rising demand for biosimilars.
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