US mask and ventilator imports plummet despite soaring coronavirus cases, as China’s PPE engine loses steam
- After a roller-coaster few months, China’s once-booming face mask market continues to cool, as demand starts tailing off from the United States
- US seaborne shipments of ventilators, gowns, masks, and goggles all fell in July, even as coronavirus cases hit record levels, according to analysts at Panjiva Research
The United States’ imports of personal protective equipment and medical supplies appear to have fallen in July, at a time when policymakers are pushing to reduce dependence on China, even as new coronavirus cases skyrocketed.
Inbound shipments of masks, goggles and gowns arriving by sea all tumbled this month compared to June, despite record levels of coronavirus cases nationwide. Only gloves remained on an upward trajectory, with sourcing experts confirming that in China and Malaysia, the market for rubber “gloves is still very hot, masks much less so”.
Analysts at Panjiva Research calculated that more than 90 per cent of US seaborne shipments of face masks in the year to July 15 came from China and Hong Kong. The dramatic decline, therefore, is further evidence that the Chinese market, which was considered by many to be out of control, is finally cooling down.
Panjiva’s analysis of shipping data found that ventilator imports by sea fell 26.6 per cent in July from June, after dipping 0.8 per cent in June from May.
