A surge in demand for ventilators in the U.S. in response to the coronavirus pandemic is leading to an increase in manufacturing in Mexico, Reuters reports, with Hill-Rom rom starting production while Fisher & Paykel among others are boosting existing production. The build up in capacity from existing manufacturers may be quicker than capacity from manufacturers who are new to the industry, as flagged in Panjiva’s research of March 30.

Panjiva’s data shows that Mexican exports of ventilators and similar respiratory systems had already been increasing rapidly with a 36.2% year over year increase in exports in February following a 31.1% rise in January and a 29.2% rise in Q4. The U.S. was already the dominant destination market for exports, having represented 97.4% of shipments in the 12 months to Feb. 29.

Chart segments change in Mexican exports of ventilators by destination.  Source: Panjiva

Much of that surge has come, however, from two major suppliers with Fisher & Paykel’s shipments having jumped 38.6% higher year over year while Flextronics started shipments in February 2019 and represented a higher value of shipments than Fisher in February. Other shippers including Becton Dickinson and Sunmed have  cut back shipments by 18.5% and 19.7% respectively.

Chart segments Mexican exports of ventilators by supplier on a monthly and three-month average basis.  Source: Panjiva