BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) – China’s medical device exports maintained steady growth in 2025, with optimized product structure and expanded global reach, solidifying its position as a key growth driver in international health trade and marking a new phase of high-quality development, according to recent industry data and a high-level forum on medical device globalization.
Statistics show that China’s medical device exports reached 50.469 billion US dollars in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 3.54%, accounting for a significant share of the country’s total pharmaceutical and healthcare product exports of 111.341 billion US dollars. The export volume has maintained a positive growth momentum, following the 5.9% year-on-year increase in pharmaceutical product exports in 2024, as the sector shifts from low-value consumables to high-end products.
A notable highlight is the robust growth of high-value medical devices, with hospital diagnostic and treatment equipment leading the way. Exports of such equipment hit 24.057 billion US dollars in 2025, surging by 8.11% year-on-year, thanks to technological breakthroughs and improved competitiveness in providing cost-effective medical solutions to the global market. This growth is supported by a surge in domestic innovation: in 2025, 76 innovative medical devices were approved for market launch in China, ranking first globally, laying a solid foundation for export expansion.
China’s medical device footprint has extended to more than 190 countries and regions, covering over 9,000 medical institutions worldwide. Regional cooperation platforms have played a pivotal role in facilitating market access: the China-ASEAN Regional Medical Products Trading (Volume-Based Procurement) Platform has attracted 224 domestic enterprises and helped 53 medical devices from 16 Chinese companies obtain registration in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the China-Central Asia "Central Pharmacy" platform in Xinjiang has promoted transactions exceeding 125 million yuan, boosting exchanges with Central Asian markets.
Cross-border innovation cooperation has also intensified. In 2025, the total value of cross-border out-licensing deals for Chinese innovative medical products and drugs exceeded 130 billion US dollars, with the number of deals surging to over 150, a sharp increase from 51.9 billion US dollars and 94 deals in 2024, reflecting growing global recognition of China’s medical innovation capacity.
To support the sustainable growth of medical device exports, multiple government departments have joined hands to address challenges such as international regulatory barriers and supply chain risks. The Ministry of Commerce has built a full-cycle service platform for enterprises going global, issuing investment guides for 170 countries and risk assessment reports for 120 countries. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is accelerating the application of digital technologies in the medical sector and building a medical industry cooperation platform with Belt and Road partner countries. Additionally, the China Drug Price Registration System, launched in December 2025, issued its first overseas drug price certificate in January 2026, establishing an international pricing benchmark for Chinese medical products.
The upcoming launch of the China International Medical Equipment and Device Trading (Volume-Based Procurement) Platform in Tianjin in early February 2026 is expected to further boost exports, transforming the city into a global hub for medical device trading from a global procurement center. China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation has also strengthened support, providing 25.46 billion US dollars in underwriting for the biomedical industry chain in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%.
Industry insiders noted that going global is no longer an option but a necessity for China’s medical device enterprises to sustain innovation and growth, given the high upfront R&D costs and risks in the sector. While opportunities abound with the global medical device market projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2026 to 2035, enterprises still face challenges such as diverse regulatory systems and rising trade risks.
"China’s medical devices are evolving from ‘made in China’ to ‘innovated in China’, and we will continue to promote international cooperation, optimize export structures, and contribute more Chinese solutions to global public health," said Yang Hao, a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation.