Color Ultrasound Imaging Equipment Experience Rapid Growth in China

China's market for ultrasound equipment is set to grow by over one-third to US$620 million in the four years, although unit shipments will remain static, according to a key prediction from a new report.

China's strong economic growth is funding increased expenditure on healthcare. "As the price of color ultrasound equipment falls, there will be a wave of replacement of black and white systems,” predicted Owen Tang, a market research analyst from InMedica (Wellingborough, UK), an international market research company. "Color equipment is forecast to increase from 14.5% of the total ultrasound equipment shipments in China in 2007, to 43% in 2012. Shared service is the main application for most ultrasound imaging equipment in China; this is determined by the structure of the healthcare institutions.”

It is anticipated that as economic development is uneven across China, so too will be the demand for ultrasound imaging equipment. "Big cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and some economic strong provinces, such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong, have a strong demand for high-end and premium color equipment,” commented Mr. Tang. "These regions contribute more than half of the total revenues in China of many manufacturers.”

Multinational companies play a vital role in the color ultrasound-equipment market in China, particularly in the high-end segment. Although local manufacturers are now active in color equipment, they focus only at the low end of the market. Currently, less than 10% of market revenues from local suppliers come from color equipment. With their cost advantage, better understanding of the competitive environment, and government policy to support domestic companies, local manufacturers are poised to achieve a much greater market share in the next five years.

InMedica is the medical research division of IMS Research, a specialist supplier of market research and consultancy services on a wide range of global electronics markets. InMedica publishes detailed research on professional point-of-care markets, such as ultrasound and X-ray equipment; and consumer medical devices such as blood pressure and heart-rate monitors.

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