2007 is a fruitful year for China medical product industry. The whole industry presents steady growth and increasing competitiveness. According to customs statistics, the total import and export value of China’s medical products was $12.697 billion, an increase of 20.33% over last year. Of this, the export value of medical products reached $8.415 billion, 22.47% higher than last year; the import value of medical products reached $4.282 billion, 16.33% higher than last year (See Table 1). China’s import and export trade of medical products saw a surplus of $4.133 billion, increasing 0.943 billion US dollars over last year.

The increase rate of the import and export trade of China’s medical products in 2007 is 2.91 percentage points higher than last year. Of this, the increase rate of export trade reduced 6.11 percentage points over last year and the increase rate of export trade increased 15.24 percentage points over last year.

International Market Remained Increasing Demand for China Medical Products

In 2007, China medical products were exported to 212 countries and regions. USA, Japan, German, China Hong Kong and UK are still China’s top five export market, accounting for 55.13% (See Table 2). Within the top 20 export markets in 2007, the increase rate of export to Belgium reached over 50%.

Competitive Products Kept Strong Growth

China’s medical dressing and consumable products have strong comparative advantage. In 2007, the export value of medical dressing is $2.405 billion, increasing 7.79% over last year; the export value of consumable products is $1.425 billion, increasing 29.46% over last year. And within the 100 export categories of medical products, the medical products of 22 categories exceed $100 million and the medical products of 36 categories exceed $10 million (See Table 3).

Export Value of Processing Trade Still Occupied Large Proportion of the Total Export Value

The export value of medical product processing trade is $3.298 billion in 2007, increasing 31.09% over last year, accounting for 39.20% of the total medical product export value, increasing $0.396 billion over last year ($2.902 billion) and contributing 42% for the surplus of $0.943 billion. The main regions include Guangdong province, Jiangsu province, Shanghai, Beijing and Zhejiang province. The main export markets are USA, Japan and German, accounting for 50% above of the global export value.

Chu Chiang Delta and Yangtze River Delta Remained High Speed Growth in Export

In 2007, the export from Guangdong province is $1.853 billion, increasing 27.53% over last year, still holding the first place in China and accounting for 22.02%. And the export value of Jiangsu province, Shanghai, Zhejiang province and Shenzhen all presented high increase rate (over 20%), indicating that China medical product industry continued to converge to this area and remained fast growth.

USA, German and Japan are Still the Main Import Countries

In 2007, the import value of medical products from 92 countries or regions is $4.282 billion, increasing 16.33% over last year. Of this, the import value of medical products from USA is $1.292 billion, increasing 26.08% over last year; the import value of medical products from German is $0.780 billion, increasing 23.37% over last year; the import value of medical products from Japan is $0.722 billion, increasing 5.30% over last year. The import value from the above three countries occupied 65.25% of the total import value. In addition, there are 8 countries from which the import value exceeded $100 million and there are 19 countries or regions from which the import value exceeded $10 million.

The major import products from USA include: X-ray apparatus and accessories, $0.297 billion, increasing 27.61% over last year; color ultrasound diagnostic system $0.132 billion, increasing 32.72% over last year; and other medical apparatus and instrument for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary use, $0.109 billion, increasing 33.35%over last year. The major import products from German include: X-ray apparatus and accessories, $0.285 billion, increasing 16.85% over last year; spectroscope, spectrophotometer and spectrograph, $70.854 million, increasing 46.86% over last year; MRI, $60.820 million, increasing 20.30% over last year. The major import products from Japan include: X-ray apparatus and accessories, $0.155 billion, increasing 18.07% over last year; microscopes (other than optical microscopes) and diffraction apparatus, $67.360 million, decreasing 5.92% over last year; color ultrasound diagnostic system, $63.131 million, decreasing 10.74% over last year.

In 2007, there are 10 categories of import medical products of which the import value exceeded $100 million and there are 38 categories of import medical products of which the import value exceeded $10 million (See Table 4).

China Medical Product Industry is Expected to Grow Continuously in 2008

With the aging of global population and the higher expectation for living quality and health level, the global medical industry will keep long-term growing. As the 3rd largest medical product market, China’s domestic market will remain strong momentum of growth due to the new upgrading cycle caused by rural healthcare reform.

China owns competitiveness in medical dressing and consumable products, enabling China medical products still have high demand from the international market. And, with the increasing manufacture capacity, China low-end and middle-end diagnostic and treatment device has become major export product in recent years. In the future, some hi-tech medical device and high value-added products will also become major export product. China medical products will have much more great opportunities in the international market.