Singapore: China's Ministry of Commerce has revealed that the sales of the nation's pharmaceutical distribution industry has surpassed the $181 billion (one trillion yuan) mark. The report pointed out the industry has, for the first time, hit the $181.2 billion (1.12 trillion yuan) mark in 2012.

Furthermore, the report added that the industry is growing rapidly, though the pace has slowed somewhat with the year-on-year growth of 18.5 percent registered in 2012. However, as compared to 2011, the growth rate has lowered by 4.5 percent.

It was also pointed out that country's drug sales at the grassroots level is expanding and even as the retailing industry is continuing to grow, low levels of chain sales and effective new service modes have become obvious.

The report predicted that China's pharmaceutical distribution industry will have stable growth amid a series of structural adjustments, transformation and upgrading.