Overview and Trend Prospect of China’s Medical Device Import and Export Trade in 2021

According to the data of CCCMHPIE, in 2021, the import and export trade volume of China’s medical devices reached US $144.087 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 16.87%, of which the export volume was US $99.409 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 24.73%. The decrease in export value is mainly due to the fact that many countries and regions have gradually normalized their response to the epidemic situation, and there are relatively sufficient epidemic prevention materials. In addition, several countries and regions with serious epidemic situation have adjusted their local epidemic prevention policies, and panic procurement has decreased.

Among them, the export volume of medical dressing products, including protective products, fell seriously year-on-year, up to 73.89%, basically returning to the pre epidemic level. However, from the first quarter of 2021, the export volume of other categories of medical devices (such as disposable consumables, hospital diagnosis and treatment products, health care and rehabilitation products, oral equipment and materials) returned to the normal level, and the growth rate increased significantly in the second half of the year.

In terms of export markets, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan are the main export markets of China’s medical devices. In 2021, they exported US $25.76 billion, ranking first among many export markets. In addition to traditional markets, countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” have increased demand for Chinese medical devices due to the impact of the epidemic. Among them, China’s medical device exports to Vietnam were 1.828 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 40.16%; exports to Thailand were 1.599 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 88.53%. It is worth noting that China’s exports of medical devices to countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” have accounted for more than 30% of China’s total medical device exports, and it is expected that this proportion will further expand in the future. In 2021, China’s medical device imports will be US$44.678 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.31%. The main sources of imports are still the United States, Germany and Japan, and the imported products are mainly high-value consumables and large medical equipment. Some high-end medical equipment products, core components and key raw materials are still highly dependent on imports.

Exports of new coronavirus testing products remain strong

In vitro diagnostic products represented by new coronavirus detection products are products that have continued to be in strong demand since the spread of the global new crown pneumonia epidemic. As China’s enterprises attach importance to overseas certification and accumulate relevant experience, China COVID-19 test products have further improved their recognition and market share in the international market, and their exports continue to maintain high growth. In 2021, China’s main in vitro diagnostic products have reached 13.093 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 157.37%, and new crown antigen detection (including self-test) products have become the export main force  of new crown viruses.

From the perspective of export market, the main export destinations of in vitro diagnostic products in China are concentrated in Europe. The top three export volume are Germany, Britain and Austria, with us $3.801 billion, US $3.259 billion and US $778 million respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 594.4%, 333% and 958.77% respectively. Besides, besides the products tested by COVID-19, the export volume of routine in vitro products is also increasing.

The export advantage of massage and health care appliances is stable

Benefiting from the gradual recovery of global market demand and the continuous warming of “housing economy”, the export volume of China’s household medical devices (such as household oxygen generators, oximeters, massage health care appliances, etc.) continued to grow in 2021. Among them, the massage and health care appliance industry is the most representative, and its export volume has increased significantly. In 2021, China’s exports of massage and health care appliances reached US $6.412 billion, a year-on-year increase of 47.44%, and the growth rate accelerated by 4.85 percentage points year-on-year. The United States, South Korea, Germany, Britain and Japan are the main export markets of massage and health care appliances.

The development trend of international trade is steady

In the past two years, the global economy still faces many uncertain factors, and the relevant laws and regulations of medical devices in many countries and regions are constantly changing. The rising costs of product registration have affected the export of domestic medical devices to a certain extent.

At the same time, because Europe and other countries and regions have strong demand for COVID-19 detection products, many domestic enterprises have bought or built automated production lines to replace some manual operations, while increasing production capacity and reducing labor costs, and reducing human dependence.

However, with the relaxation of epidemic control and control in countries such as Europe and the United States, the demand for COVID-19 testing products is expected to decline, and the international orders are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few leading enterprises. The industry may face overcapacity, and many domestic enterprises are stepping up the layout of the offshore market.

At present, many domestic enterprises plan to establish international platforms. Some enterprises in subdivided fields with high technical threshold choose to cooperate with enterprises in developed countries and regions such as Europe and the United States in R & D and sales channels.

Source：CCCMHPIE

Editing and translation：BradyKnows

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