An AFP investigation says Indian pharma firms are exporting millions of dollars’ worth of tapentadol, a high-strength opioid, to West Africa. Researchers claim the pills are being mixed into kush, an already deadly “zombie drug,” and that this supply has intensified addiction and overdose deaths across the region even as crackdowns continue.
Maersk is rolling out its first dedicated reefer rail service linking Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical hub to Nhava Sheva Port via a cold-chain corridor. The service runs weekly, aiming to make logistics more predictable for exporters while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3,000 tonnes annually compared with conventional options.
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India’s pharmaceutical exports fell 23.17% in March, a sharp reversal attributed to the West Asia conflict disrupting both shipping routes and air transit hubs. With Dubai and Abu Dhabi impacted, freight costs rose and losses are estimated at ₹2,500–₹5,000 crore. The hit threatens the smooth flow of essential medicines to global markets despite earlier FY26 growth.
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