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Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Canada Industry Data and Analysis
Generic pharmaceuticals account for nearly three-fourths of all prescription drugs dispensed each year in Canada and generic manufacturers are essential to maintaining access and generating significant savings for patients, insurers and public drug plans. Rapid population growth, rising utilization and an expanding 65+ population have contributed to higher overall prescription spending in recent years. Even so, the sector’s revenue outlook is heavily shaped by federal and provincial pricing policies, brand-name loss-of-exclusivity timing and competition from both imports and other domestic manufacturers; over the past five years, industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.7% to an estimated $2.9 billion, with growth of 0.3% expected in 2026.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released February 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada operates under the NAICS industry code 32541bCA. Generic pharmaceutical manufacturers produce medications that are bioequivalent to brand-name drugs that regulatory agencies have already approved. These drugs contain the same active ingredients, dosage form, strength and intended use as the original brand-name drugs. Related terms covered in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include active pharmaceutical ingredient (api), antineoplastic agents, biologics, biosimilars, bioequivalence, dossier and evergreening.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include Nervous system and cardiovascular system, Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents and Alimentary tract and metabolism.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include Novartis, Apotex and Pharmascience.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada in 2026?
The market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is $3.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada in 2026?
There are 216 businesses in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada are Novartis, Apotex and Pharmascience
What does the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include?
Gaining regulatory approval for generic drugs and Developing and producing generic drugs are part of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is Novartis.
How competitive is the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
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