Brazil to Meets Health Equipment Export Goal Ahead of Schedule

A higher than expected growth in annual exports of health equipment has allowed Brazil to bring forward its goal of reaching USD one billion in external sales for the sector by a full year, to 2014.

The Brazilian health products industry's performance is reflected by total revenues of approximately USD 5 billion for 2012, an increase of 17% compared to 2011. Most of the revenue was generated by internal sales, but annual exports of health equipment have also consistently grown, generating USD 707 million in export revenues in 2011, an increase of 11.7% compared to 2010, despite the crisis faced by the global economy. The number of companies in the sector has grown from 326 to 506 between1999 and 2011, while revenues for the period have increased by 421%, from just over USD 1 billion in 1999, to USD 5 billion for 2012.

During the same period, the number of countries purchasing health equipment from Brazil grew from 40 to 180. The industry is investing in eight key markets, which include Angola, Saudi Arabia, Chili, the United States, India, Mexico, Peru, and Russia. Of these, the United States is the largest importer, responsible for 25% of the sales volume. Germany and Belgium also feature among the top ten importing countries.

The growth witnessed by the industry and the investment in exports created a requirement for international certification. As a result, the Brazilian Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (ABIMO; São Paulo, Brazil) began to provide consultancy services and support for Brazilian companies seeking to register with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ABIMO is also stimulating access to cutting edge technology through agreements with industry associations from other countries and partnerships with multinational companies.

Approximately 980 research and development (R&D) projects are underway in partnership with Brazilian universities, such as São Paulo University (USP; Brazil) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ; Brazil).

“Brazil invests in technology to develop reliable products that can be offered at an excellent cost-benefit ratio. Furthermore, we Brazilians are known for our flexibility, which means products can be adapted to the requirements of different clients,” said Franco Pallamolla, president of ABIMO.

Brazilian Health Devices, the Brazilian health equipment industry’s export brand, will showcase its high quality and technology products at the MEDICA fair, which will be held during November 2012 in Düsseldorf (Germany).

Related Links:
São Paulo University
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
ABIMO