Manufacturers and suppliers of medical PPE

China provided 43 percent of world imports of face shields, protective garments, mouth-nose-protection equipment, gloves, and goggles in 2018. China is a major supplier collectively and of each of the five products individually.

Many countries also produce these medical gear locally. But as a share of imports, China is a major player. China was the source of 50 percent of EU imports of these products from outside the bloc in 2018, including as high as 71 percent of EU imports of mouth-nose-protective equipment. Similarly for the United States, China was the source of 48 percent of imports of PPE in 2018, providing 45 percent of US imports of protective garments.