By Fineline Cube 
The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE) has released its summary of China’s health sector trading situation for Q1 2025. China’s import and export trade of pharmaceutical products reached USD 47.088 billion, marking a 0.38% year-on-year (YOY) increase. Exports grew by 4.39% to USD 26.632 billion, driven by growth in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices/consumables. Imports contracted by 4.42% to USD 20.456 billion, reflecting the impact of domestic industrial upgrading and import substitution.
Export Market Performance
- US Exports: Grew by 9.6% YOY to USD 4.639 billion, led by APIs and disposable consumables.
- EU Exports: Increased by 4.43% to USD 5.63 billion.
- Belt and Road Initiative Countries: Exports rose by 5.23% to USD 10.88 billion, with Russia (+12.54%), Saudi Arabia (+9.54%), and Africa (+11.18%) showing strong growth.
Import Trends
The decline in imports was influenced by the domestic substitution effect. Western medicine imports decreased by 2.03% YOY to USD 11.785 billion, though imports of APIs and pharmaceutical intermediates (AIP) grew by 22.52% to USD 22.732 billion, driven by increased procurement of hormone intermediates and anti-infective raw materials. Medical device imports fell by 7.38% to USD 8.004 billion, with hospital diagnostic/therapeutic equipment down by 7.01%. There remains a reliance on imported high-end drugs, particularly anti-cancer and rare disease medications from the EU and Switzerland, though growth rates have slowed.-Fineline Info & Tech