Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €4.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Consumers move away from dispensing chemists during the cost-of-living crisis
- With disposable incomes falling between 2022 and 2023, more consumers want to save money and buy medication from supermarkets.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Community pharmacies will have an increasingly important role in primary care
- Community pharmacies will act as the first port of call for chronic patients and provide simple medical services (e.g. childhood immunisation programmes) to the broader community as the Irish population becomes more fragile.
Biggest companies in the Dispensing Chemists in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Dispensing Chemists in Ireland industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Prescription-only pharmaceuticals , Pharmacy-only pharmaceuticals and General sales list. Prescription-only pharmaceuticals is the largest segment of the Dispensing Chemists in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
The Health Act 2013 and prescription subsidies hinder prescription-only pharmaceutical sales
- Prescription-only products must be prescribed by qualified health professionals like GPs and nurses and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist. Examples include antibiotics, anxiety and antidepressant medication and blood thinners.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in the industry dispense and retail pharmaceutical goods via community pharmacies and chemists. Pharmacies also provide other Health Services Executive (HSE) services and sell over-the-counter medications and health-related products. This industry does not include non-health-related products or in-store supermarket pharmacies.
What's included in this industry?
Prescription-only pharmaceuticalsPharmacy-only pharmaceuticalsGeneral sales listDelivery services, consultation and other productsCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINESPHARMACY-ONLY MEDICINESGENERAL SALES LIST (GSL) MEDICINESOVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) MEDICINESBIOLOGICAL MEDICINEBIOSIMILAR MEDICINEIndustry Code
SIC 47.73 - Dispensing Chemists in Ireland
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Regulations create intense pricing pressure. The Health Act 2013 introduced a generic substitution and reference pricing system. Since branded drugs cost four to six-and-a-ha...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Over-the-counter medicine sales have benefitted from there being few alternatives. The 2015 Emergency Medicines Legislation allows trained pharmacists to administer specific ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Dublin is a strategic hub for pharmacies. Its well-developed infrastructure and large customer base make it a highly attractive region for pharmacies to operate stores.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Consolidation activity raises market shares. LXV and LloydsPharmacy Ireland have acquired small pharmacies to expand the number of customers in their catchment area.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Only Boots Retail (Ireland) accounts for more than 5% of total revenue. Many Irish pharmacies are small, independent operators with only one establishment or a local presence...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The PCRS reimbursemes chemists for public services. Approximately 80% of all community-dispensed medicines are through the publicly funded PCRS.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit has come under pressure from higher sales of generic drugs. The imposition of the 2013 Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act and the Medicines Management Pr...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland in 2024?
The market size of the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland is €4.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Dispensing Chemists in Ireland industry in 2024?
There are 1,790 businesses in the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland is expected to grow.
What does the Dispensing Chemists in Ireland include?
Prescription-only pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy-only pharmaceuticals are part of the Dispensing Chemists industry.
How competitive is the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Dispensing Chemists industry in Ireland.
Related Industries
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Competitors
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Complementors
View all industries in Ireland
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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