Among the 90 survey respondents, 51 (or 56 per cent) have already sold to LMICs (see Figure 2). Nearly all companies confirmed their interest in future sales to LMICs and 7 in 10 have shown interest in joining international initiatives, including product donations.
Figure 2: Number of LMICs exported to by survey respondents
Asia is the top export destination for Chinese suppliers. The table below shows the top 10 LMIC sales destinations. LMICs geographically close to China, such as the Philippines, Viet Nam and India, are the most common sales destinations. However, more distant countries like Bolivia, Egypt and Kenya also show significant interest in Chinese products.
10Table 1: Top 10 LMIC sales destinations for the survey respondents
| # | Country | # of suppliers | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Philippines | 31 | Asia |
| Viet Nam | 31 | Asia | |
| 3 | India | 29 | Asia |
| 4 | Cambodia | 20 | Asia |
| Ukraine | 20 | Europe | |
| 6 | Pakistan | 17 | Asia |
| Myanmar | 17 | Asia | |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 14 | Asia |
| 9 | Uzbekistan | 13 | Asia |
| 10 | Mongolia | 12 | Asia |
| Laos | 12 | Asia | |
| Bolivia | 12 | Latin America | |
| Egypt | 12 | Africa | |
| Iran | 12 | Asia | |
| Kenya | 12 | Africa |
This growing interest in LMIC markets is driven not only by rising demand but also by intense competition in the domestic market. Several suppliers have highlighted the fierce domestic competition and the associated price wars that erode their margins. According to one of China’s largest wheelchair suppliers, they have observed an approximate 40 per cent decrease in their domestic market sales and are therefore actively strengthening their exports.