Vaccine exports hit an all-time high, but have been on the decline since the second half of the year. Last year, pharmaceutical exports fell 23% year-on-year. The export performance of medicines, which had been on a high march for two years from 2020 to 2021, is gradually returning to the previous year's level as the global spread of COVID-19 subsides. Drug imports exceeded $10 billion for the first time last year. The drug trade deficit soared to more than $4 billion as pharmaceutical exports plunged and import performance increased slightly. Vaccines, a representative COVID-19 beneficiary item, also recorded the highest version ever last year, but monthly, the decline has been evident since the second half of the year.