Analyst comment
a quarter of North American companies believe they aren’t currently hit but expect negative effects ahead. Asia-Pacific companies appear to believe they have passed initial shocks (price hikes, supply chain blips). However, when surveyed a few months earlier, Asia-Pacific firms were notably more relaxed about impacts, indicating there has been a general failure to anticipate risk, or the risk was underestimated. In contrast, Europe has more firms with ongoing pain and continue to display risk-averse behaviour. North American manufacturers are more forward-looking than reactive, anticipating trouble even where none has fully materialised yet.
Price expectations for medical devices Companies were asked, as a result of the conflict, how device prices will change in 2027, compared to their previous assumptions. All participants, when asked in July and August, agreed that the crisis will likely result in price increases for customers (and patients), with varying degrees of confidence. Among Asia-Pacific companies, around 33% expected rises of more than 10% above prior estimates, 11% expected a price rise between 5% and 10% above forecasts and 33% expected a more modest but significant 1% to 5% rise. More than 20% expect no change in pricing. European manufacturers seem the most pessimistic. Around 50% of those surveyed expected prices to increase by at least 5% over the 2026 forecast. Some 33% of respondents expect an increase of 1–5%. North American firms are the most polarised. Over 40% are bullish about pricing increases, expecting no change. But a similar number also believe prices will increase by more than 5%. Asia-Pacific and Europe are bracing for steeper cost inflation in devices; North American views are more mixed, with many hoping to dodge price rises but a sizeable minority anticipating sharp increases. These figures align with recent external reports of rising energy and input costs, and shipping/insurance surcharges.
Impact on delivery capabilities and logistics
For companies experiencing impacts, respondents were asked which were the two most impactful supply chain observations. All respondents, across all regions, cited delivery costs to customers increasing. Next, and more nuanced, was the expectation that the logistics chain would become more complex, which is understandable if shipping costs are rising. This expectation was cited most among European and North American manufacturers, at 100% and 93% respectively. Asia-Pacific companies were a little more relaxed, with two thirds citing logistic chain complexity as being of concern. Relatively few respondents would admit to encountering actual difficulties in
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Figure 2: Has your medical devices business been adversely affected by the crisis in the Persian Gulf? 100%
9% 80% 38% 60% 40% 55% 20% 0% Asia-Pacific Europe Yes, it has, and diffi culties are continuing to mount No, the crisis has not affected us, but we think it will No, the crisis has not affected us, and we don’t expect any diffi culties Source: GlobalData, Online Medtech Industry Survey April-August 2026, 131 respondents in aggregate
delivering products; a worsening ability to deliver was only cited by 33% of respondents in Asia- Pacific, but even less at 7% in North America. Worsening of outright delivery failures is relatively rare − only Asia-Pacific reports more than modest cases. However, logistics complexity and cost pressure are widespread. Firms everywhere are navigating longer routes, disrupted ports, insurance premiums, and higher fuel and freight charges.
Inventory levels and buffering Regarding inventory (finished goods, held in stock), when surveyed between April and June, nearly 45% of Asia-Pacific firms report more than six weeks of inventory and only ~8% have zero inventory. In Europe, over 40% reported zero inventory; only a third have more than six weeks inventory. North American companies report similar trends to Europe, with around 39% with zero inventory; and 36% have more than six weeks of stock.
Figure 3: Impact of Gulf Crisis on 2027 medtech pricing 100%
25% 80% 60% 40% 20% 22% 0% Asia-Pacific Europe North America
We expect prices in 2027 to increase by more than 10% above our early 2026 estimates We expect prices in 2027 to increase by more than 5% to 10% above our early 2026 estimates We expect 2027 pricing will be 1% to 5% to 10% above our early 2026 estimates Our self prices will not be affected at all by this confl ict
Source: GlobalData, Online Medtech Industry Survey April-August 2026, 131 respondents in aggregate © GlobalData. 9 17% 33% 11% 33% 33% 43% 25%
23% 11%
23% © GlobalData. North America Yes, it has, but the worst is over 50% 45% 17% 33%
18% 9%
27%
Respondents
Respondents
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