How the Japan Earthquake Will Affect the Musculoskeletal Industry
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, MARCH 15, 2011
The devastating earthquake in Japan has left the nation in crisis. Even when the country begins to recover, there could be a lingering impact on medical device sales, which some estimates place at up to 10% of the worldwide device market.
In orthopedics, the most exposed companies, according to several analyst reports, are Wright Medical, Zimmer and Stryker. In dental, Dentsply has commented publicly on the disaster, stating that all of their associates are safe, though Japan-based production may be impacted. One key supplier, the source of a product that contributes 9% of the company's sales, is located in an evacuation zone. Dentsply said they didn't know when production would resume at that site.
Medtronic is among the companies who have pledged aid to Japan.
As reported in Mass Device, Japan has the world's third largest economy. Pacific Bridge Medical estimates that Japan's device market, at $25 billion, trails only the U.S. and European markets.
Our thoughts and good wishes go out to the people of Japan and those affected by the disaster.
