The government of Turkey has joined others in restricting exports of medical supplies, Bloomberg reports, including masks and surgical gowns. That follows a similar move in India which has focused on pharmaceuticals and their precursors, as outlined in Panjiva research of Mar. 4, in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Panjiva data shows Turkish exports were worth $275 million in the 12 months to Nov. 30 including bandages, surgical gowns and gloves, suture kits etc. That followed a growth in exports of 4.0% year over year, led by an expansion of exports to Europe of 8.3% to represent 35.5% of the total. Shipments to China climbed 11.0% higher while those to the U.S. went through a surge of 20.2%. That growth may be a driver for the government’s restrictions.

Chart segments Turkish exports of selected medical supplies by destination on a trailing 12 months basis. Source: Panjiva

U.S. imports of the products likely covered by the ban from all origins climbed 12.6% year over year in 2019 to reach $10.9 billion. The reliance on Turkey, and impact of the ban directly, is minimal. The main supplier to the U.S. was Mexico which accounted for 27.8% of the total after a 28.7% surge in 2019. That growth slowed to 13.1% in Q4.

The second largest supplier region was the EU with 26.0% of the total while China represented 13.6% of supplies.

Major buyers of medical supplies, based on seaborne import data, from outside North America include Nipro, Mölnlycke and Johnson & Johnson. Meanwhile importers from Mexico include Becton Dickinson, Kimberly Clark and 3M.

Chart segments change in U.S. imports of selected medical supplies by origin. Source: Panjiva