A decrease of 18%, with a total import and export trade of medical devices in China reaching 48.1 billion US dollars in the first half of 2023

2023-10-13

Core Summary

In the first half of 2023, China’s import and export trade of medical devices totaled 48.161 billion US dollars, down 18.12% year-on-year. Among them, the export value was 23.632 billion US dollars, down 31% year-on-year; Imports amounted to US $24.529 billion, down 0.17% year-on-year. In the first half of 2023, the top three commodity categories of China’s medical equipment imports: hospital diagnosis and treatment, disposable consumables, health and rehabilitation supplies. In the first half of 2023, the top three commodity categories of China’s medical equipment exports: hospital diagnosis and treatment, health and rehabilitation supplies, disposable consumables. In the first half of 2023, China’s top three countries/regions for medical device imports: the United States, Germany, and Japan. In the first half of 2023, China’s top three countries/regions for medical device exports: the United States, Japan, Germany. In the first half of 2023, China’s top three provinces and cities for medical device imports: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong Province; In the first half of 2023, China’s top three provinces and cities for medical device exports: Guangdong Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province.

Overall situation

Figure 1 Total import and export volume and growth rate of medical devices in China in the first half of 2023 (unit: USD 100 million)

From the monthly import and export trade data in the first half of the year, the total import of medical devices in March reached a peak of 9.345 billion US dollars, an increase of 38.58%.

Figure 2 Monthly distribution of China’s total import and export volume of medical devices in the first half of 2023 (unit: USD 100 million)

Commodity analysis

From the perspective of commodity categories, the largest import volume in the first half of 2023 was hospital diagnosis and treatment, with an import volume of 20.738 billion US dollars, accounting for 84.54% of the total import volume; It was followed by disposable consumables, with imports of 2.022 billion US dollars, accounting for 8.24% of the total imports. In terms of export, hospital diagnosis and treatment accounted for the largest proportion, the export value was 11.203 billion US dollars, accounting for 45.67%; This was followed by health and rehabilitation supplies, with a total export value of $4.721 billion, accounting for 19.25%.

Import volume of the top ten commodities amount information

In the first half of 2023, the largest amount of medical equipment imports in China was “30021500 (immune products, which have been configured with a fixed dose or made into retail packaging)”, with imports reaching 3.983 billion US dollars, an increase of 3.19%, accounting for 16.24%; The second was “38221900 (other diagnostic or experimental reagents attached to the liner and formulated reagents whether or not attached to the liner)”, the import amount reached 2.668 billion US dollars, an increase of 12.05%, accounting for 10.88%.

The amount of the top ten commodities in export volumeThe largest export value of medical device products in China in the first half of 2023 was “90183900 (other needles, catheters, and similar products)”, with an export value of 1.052 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 16.84%, accounting for 4.45%; It was closely followed by “90189099 (other medical, surgical or veterinary instruments and tools)”, with an export value of 1.039 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 2.53%, accounting for 4.40%.

Regional analysis

1．Global continents

(1) Import Market

In terms of import market, in the first half of 2023, China’s medical device imports were 24.529 billion US dollars, down 0.17% year-on-year, mainly concentrated in Europe, North America and Asia. Europe ranked first with imports of 11.851 billion US dollars, accounting for 48.31%, followed by North America with 7.602 billion US dollars and Asia with 4.856 billion US dollars, accounting for 30.99% and 19.80% respectively.

Figure 3 Distribution of China’s Medical Device Import Volume in the First Half of 2023

（2）Export market

In the first half of 2023, China’s medical device exports totaled $23.632 billion, down 31% from the same period last year. From the highest to the lowest, the cumulative amount of each continent is Asia: $8.664 billion, accounting for 36.66%; North America: $6.236 billion, 26.39%; Europe: $5.798 billion, accounting for 24.53%; South America: $1.193 billion, 5.05%; Oceania: $1.008 billion, 4.27%; Africa: $734 million, 3.11%

Figure 4 Distribution of the intercontinental export amount of China’s medical device exports in the first half of 2023

“Belt and Road” countries

In the first half of 2023, the total import and export trade between China’s medical devices and the “Belt and Road” countries was 10.319 billion US dollars, down 17.29% year-on-year, accounting for 21.43% of China’s total import and export volume of medical devices in the same period. Among them, the export value was 8.08 billion US dollars, down 18.01% year-on-year; The value of imports was 2.239 billion US dollars, down 14.55% year-on-year.

Figure 5 Total import and export volume and growth rate of China’s medical devices and “Belt and Road” countries in the first half of 2023

（1）Import Market

In the first half of 2023, China’s imports of medical devices from “One Belt and One Road” countries totaled 2.239 billion US dollars, down 14.55% year-on-year. The main sources are Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Vietnam and Thailand.

In the first half of 2023, China’s exports of medical devices to “One Belt and One Road” countries totaled $8.08 billion, down 18.01% year-on-year. The main export markets were Hong Kong, China, Russia, India, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In the first half of 2023, China’s medical device exports “One Belt and One Road” Top5 countries/regions

RCEP Countries

In the first half of 2023, the total import and export trade of China’s medical devices and “RCEP” countries was 10.147 billion US dollars, down 22.25% year-on-year, accounting for 21.07% of China’s total import and export volume of medical devices in the same period. Among them, the export value was 5.83 billion US dollars, down 30.88% year-on-year; Imports totaled 4.317 billion U.S. dollars, down 6.46 percent year on year.

Figure 6 Import and export value and growth rate of China’s medical devices and “RCEP” countries in the first half of 2023

Figure 7 The proportion of the trade volume between China’s medical devices and “RCEP” countries in the first half of 2023 and the total trade volume in the same period

From the RCEP member states, in the first half of 2023, China’s total trade in medical equipment ranked first in Japan, with a total import and export volume of 3.724 billion US dollars, accounting for 36.70%, and its import and export volume ranked first, with a trade volume of 2.212 billion US dollars and 1.513 billion US dollars, accounting for 51.23% and 25.95%, respectively. Korea ranked second (13.83 percent) with 597 million dollars and Singapore with 478 million dollars (11.07 percent). In terms of exports, Korea ranked second, and Australia ranked third with 659 million dollars (11.30 percent) and 643 million dollars (11.02 percent), respectively.

4. Commonwealth of Independent State

In the first half of 2023, the total import and export trade between China’s medical devices and “CIS” countries was 1.244 billion US dollars, an increase of 55.38%. Among them, the export value was 1.240 billion US dollars, an increase of 55.76%; Imports amounted to US $0.04 million, down 13.13% year-on-year.

Figure 8 Total import and export volume and growth rate of China’s medical devices and “CIS” countries in the first half of 2023

From the CIS countries import trade data, in the first half of 2023, China’s medical equipment imports ranked first in Russia, imports of $2,745,300, down 12.86%; Followed by Belarus $954,200, down 8.26%; In third place was Armenia with $52,200, up 49.88% year-on-year.From the export trade data of the CIS countries, Russia ranked first with exports of 874.7967 million US dollars, an increase of 57.03%; Kazakhstan ($161,693,800) and Uzbekistan ($64.681,000) ranked second and third, respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 79.97% and 24.71%.

Key countries or regions

(1)Import Mareket

In terms of import markets, countries such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and Ireland were the main sources. The top ranked country was the United States, with an import volume of 5.859 billion US dollars, accounting for 23.89%. Next was Germany, which was 4.428 billion US dollars, accounting for 18.05%. Japan ranked third with $2.212 billion, accounting for 9.02%.

(2) Export market

In terms of export markets, in the first half of 2023, China’s medical equipment exports were mainly the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries and regions. Ranked first was the United States, imports reached 5.397 billion US dollars, accounting for 22.84%. It was followed by Japan with 1.513 billion US dollars, accounting for 6.40%. Germany ranked third with 1.228 billion US dollars, accounting for 5.20%.

Analysis of provincial trade

(1) Import market

From the trade data of national import customs ports, Shanghai had the highest import volume of medical devices in the first half of 2023, followed by Beijing, and Guangdong Province ranked third.

（2）Export Market

From the trade data of the national export customs ports, the province with the highest export volume of medical devices in China was Guangdong Province, followed by Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province ranks third.

In the first half of 2023, China’s provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) medical equipment exports ranking (Top10)

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Source：Joinchain

Data Source：MDCLOUD

Translated & edited ： Bradyknow