China’s Changing Medical Device Exports

Author(s)

Mihir P. Torsekar

During the early years of the period 2001–16, the majority of China’s medical device exports were low-technology goods. However, the composition of these exports has gradually shifted towards medium-and-high-tech devices. Since 2012, these goods have become China’s leading medical device export categories. This article discusses two factors behind this trend: (1) the country’s large and growing healthcare market, which has created opportunities for local producers to supply all segments within the sector, and (2) government policies that have prioritized the production of innovative medical devices from local companies.