As in the previous year, Europe was the division’s top-selling region in 2010. Around one-half of the division’s sales were achieved here. European sales increased by 2.9% to EUR 2,632 million. Our largest market within Europe was France, where sales totaled EUR 514 million. Sales there fell by 3.5%, due in part to generic competition faced by our CardioMetabolic Care business. Sales in Germany, our second-largest European market, stagnated at EUR 497 million (+0.1%) as a consequence of a restrictive health care policy. In Italy and Spain, sales increased by 7.1% and 1.8%, respectively, to EUR 308 million and EUR 294 million, putting them nearly on par with each another. Russia and Turkey were two examples of smaller markets that posted strong growth of 36% and 16%, respectively. However, sales in Greece declined by 13% because of the impact of the financial crisis on the health care sector.
Merck Serono | Sales by region
In North America, sales increased 9.4% to EUR 1,035 million, mainly due to the good performance of Rebif® and positive currency influences. Sales in Latin America increased by 14% to EUR 809 million. Brazil, our largest market in this region, posted sales growth of 36% to EUR 286 million. Mexico and Argentina also developed well, increasing sales by 22% and 44%, respectively. However, sales in Venezuela dropped by 54% because of strong currency effects. With sales increasing by 20% to EUR 932 million, the Asia, Africa, Australasia region was the division’s geographic growth driver. Our largest market within this region was Japan. Thanks to the success of Erbitux®, sales increased there by 39% to EUR 177 million. With sales of EUR 126 million (+2.4%), China was our second-largest market in the region. We achieved growth of 18% in India, where sales totaled EUR 66 million. Sales climbed by 52% to EUR 39 million in South Africa and by 18% to EUR 60 million in Australia.