After a year of mixed fortunes, the global ultrasound market is set for a strong year in 2018. The three major geographic markets of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the Americas, and Asia are all forecast to grow faster than in 2017, driving a global growth rate of 5.1%, notably higher than the 3.2% growth seen last year. The main regional growth trends are discussed below.
Image courtesy of Simon Harris.U.S.: Uncertainty eases over ACA repeal
The U.S. market was subdued in 2017 due to a combination of reduced government spending and delayed purchasing decisions in the private sector. The Trump administration's plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) led to uncertainty in the market, and many health providers delayed major purchasing decisions. By the third quarter of 2017, it became clear that the Republicans didn't have enough support for the repeal bill, restoring a degree of confidence with health providers. Purchasing picked up in the later part of the year and pent-up demand is expected to drive growth of 3% to 4% in 2018.
Simon Harris.Of the traditional ultrasound markets (radiology, cardiology, and ob/gyn), the highest growth is forecast for radiology, which was the hardest hit in 2017, with a double-digit decline in sales in the first half of the year. Cardiology and ob/gyn were less impacted by the prospect of ACA repeal, and those markets are forecast to grow only slightly faster in 2018 than in 2017.
Point-of-care ultrasound (POC) remains a higher-growth market, but its annual growth rate has slowed in recent years as the market matures. The U.S. POC ultrasound market is forecast to grow by around 4% to 5% in 2018. The more widespread availability of ultraportable handheld scanners (see our previous insight: "Are the good times over for compact ultrasound?") is expected to provide a boost to the POC market, particularly for the emergency medicine segment.
Latin America: Return to growth, driven by rebound in Brazil
The Latin American ultrasound market has been challenging in recent years, mainly due to the weak Brazilian market. As Brazil is by far the largest market in the region, the decline in the Brazilian market pulled down growth for the whole region. The Brazilian ultrasound market rebounded strongly in 2017, and the market recovery is forecast to continue into 2018.
While the Brazilian economy is gaining momentum, political instability remains and continued structural reforms are by no means a certainty. Although the outlook for the Brazilian ultrasound market is more optimistic than in recent years, be prepared for volatility.
Western Europe: Slight uptick, but low growth continues
The Western European economy is on track to grow at its fastest pace in several years. Coupled with several large regional tenders that are expected this year, the ultrasound market is forecast to see a slight uptick in demand. That said, the market is largely saturated, and the outlook is for low-single-digit growth.
As was the case for the U.S., higher growth is forecast for the POC ultrasound market in Western Europe than the traditional markets. The POC market is forecast to grow slightly faster than in the U.S., as the European market is less developed with more room for growth.
Eastern Europe: Rising energy prices to drive growth in Russia
The Russian ultrasound market is in recovery mode after double-digit declines in the past few years, with the recovery driven by increased government spending on the back of rising oil and gas prices and an expanding private sector. The market is forecast to grow at a high-single-digit rate this year.
Outside of Russia, there are limited growth opportunities in the Eastern European region. With reduced levels of European Union investment for healthcare projects, the market is expected to grow more slowly than in previous years, albeit at a slighter faster rate than the Western European market.
Middle East: Healthcare reform boosts Turkish market
In 2015 and 2016, low oil prices and political instability across the Middle East region led to a massive reduction in spending on healthcare. The Middle East ultrasound market returned to growth in 2017, largely on the back of improving oil prices. Assuming oil prices continue to strengthen, so, too, will the recovery in the ultrasound market.
Turkey continues to represent a growth opportunity in the region, with growth driven by the Turkish government's major reform initiative to transform its healthcare system into a universal health coverage model. The government aims to open five city hospitals in 2018, with a combined capacity of around 8,000 beds.
Much of the economic growth in recent years has been fueled by foreign investment, and the healthcare reform has largely been financed by public-private partnerships (PPPs). Political and social instability remain a serious threat to the longer-term growth prospects of the Turkish market, and 2018 is expected to be the peak year for growth in the ultrasound market.
Africa: Ultrasound market roars ahead
Consistent economic growth, increased urbanization, a growing middle class, and massive population growth will drive demand for ultrasound equipment in Africa. The market is forecast to grow at a high-single-digit rate in 2018. The increasing availability of value ultrasound systems with improved image quality is fueling growth in the African market.
India: The world's fastest-growing ultrasound market
The Indian ultrasound market is forecast to grow at a double-digit rate in 2018, buoyed by the government's efforts to expand healthcare coverage, increasing private-sector spending on healthcare, and a growing medical tourism industry.
In the government's Union Budget 2017, the overall health budget was increased by 22%, although most of the increase was targeted at human resources and medical education rather than infrastructure and equipment. With India's population predicted to surpass that of China's around 2024, the longer-term prospects for the Indian ultrasound market are also encouraging.
China: Continued healthcare reform and a growing private sector
The Chinese economy performed better than expected in 2017, but it is expected to cool in 2018. However, sustained investment in healthcare reform and an expanding private healthcare sector are expected to drive high-single-digit growth for the ultrasound market. The relaxation of the single-child policy will continue to be a major growth driver in the women's health segment.
Conclusion
With an improved growth outlook for all three major regions (EMEA, Americas, and Asia), 2018 is forecast to be a strong year for the global ultrasound market. Although the annual growth rate is expected to gradually cool in the following three years, the expanding use of ultrasound across many medical specialties will ensure that the market continues to grow at a midsingle-digit rate in the years ahead.
Simon Harris is managing director and principal analyst at Signify Research, a health tech, market-intelligence firm based in Cranfield, U.K. He can be reached at [email protected].
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