Pharmaceutical logistics trends
What are the issues facing pharmaceutical logistics? Pelican Biothermal, a company that specialises in temperature-controlled pharmaceutical packaging, recently surveyed biopharmaceutical industry players on challenges, trends and technologies.
Anyone who thinks of pharmaceutical products usually has temperature-sensitive goods in mind. They only account for 27% of the industry’s total sales volume, however, namely USD 318 billion – but their share is growing exponentially, twice as fast as other segments. Thus 30 of the world’s 50 most important biopharmaceutical products will need to be handled in the cold chain in a mere three years.
So there are great opportunities ahead for specialised logistics companies. They earned USD 15 billion last year, a figure that could rise to almost USD 17 billion by 2021. Pelican Biothermal has analysed responses from producers and distributors it surveyed and identified three key developments on the way to that future.
Firstly, there is an increased need for quality, as more sensitive goods increase the complexity of logistics and the risk of being subject to hazards. The study underlines the problem of temperatures being exceeded – and the costs resulting from the damage.
Secondly, distribution range
The second central topic is the extension of distribution ranges, which means that products frequently have to cross more climate zones than was previously the case. More than half of the respondents stated that they regularly ship goods across inter- national frontiers, which calls for more complex networks as well as various modes of transport.
The last trend is the need to optimise the total cost of ownership (TCO). For 70% of those surveyed, the definition of TCO in their logistics and supply chain can help them to cope better with competition and pressure on margins.
