HYDERABAD, May 30 Reuters India39;s pharmaceutical export sales growth is expected to pick up to nearly 11 this fiscal year, from a roughly 10 increase last year, led by the key U.S. and UK markets, a governmentbacked trade body said on Thursday.

India, the world39;s thirdlargest drugmaker by volume, has seen exports soaring despite global countries39; concerns regarding the quality of medicinal products following cough syruplinked deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan.

Exports are expected to cross 31 billion in the year ending March 31, compared with exports of nearly 28 billion in fiscal 2024, according to Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India Pharmexcil.

The growth markets will be the United States, UK, Latin America and Africa, Udaya Bhaskar, the director general of Pharmexcil, told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Hyderabad.

Among them the U.S. is a key market it accounts for about 30 of India39;s annual pharma exports after a nearly 16 increase in fiscal 2024, according to Pharmexcil.

The country39;s drug shortages as well as the increased use of drugs for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and depression will aid demand for India39;s affordably priced drugs, Bhaskar said.

Earlier this week, India Ratings and Research shared a similar view, saying the U.S. market will help Indian drugmakers sustain their revenue improvement this fiscal year.

However, Bhaskar sees potential in the UK market as well.

The UK is a sweet spot. I was…