China's Disposable Trocar VBP Transformation And Domestic Competition

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Breaking Through in a Red Ocean at 98% Self-Sufficiency

Between 2025 and 2026, disposable laparoscopic trocars became one of the most closely watched categories in China's high-value consumables VBP - not because of the highest unit prices, but due to their massive clinical consumption volume, the highest domestic substitution rate among medical device categories (98.1%), and the fact that successive provincial procurement rounds are reshaping profit distribution.

VBP Status Overview

To date, provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, and the "3+N" alliance (Henan, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang) along with Jiangsu and Anhui have carried out volume-based procurement of laparoscopic trocars. Taking Guangdong's 2026 renewal procurement as an example: the lowest winning bid was approximately RMB 26/unit (basic 5 mm plastic trocar), with the highest capped product at RMB 1,148 (imported anti-reflux optical type with multiple accessories). Most winning ordinary models fell within the RMB 30–120 range, representing an average price reduction of 60%–80% compared to pre-VBP levels. Procurement cycles mostly extend to 2027–2028, with winning companies required to guarantee stable supply.

Domestic Competitive Landscape

Domestically, over 200 trocar product registrations have been approved. Key players include Kangji Medical, Mindray, Touchstone Medical, Weijing Medical, Boyining, Changzhou Vic, and Anhui Aofu. Domestic products show no substantial gap compared to imports in basic bladed/bladeless models - both utilize similar 304/316L stainless steel tubes + ABS/PC injection-molded seals, with precision ensured by CNC Swiss lathes and molds, and airtightness meeting the 15 mmHg pneumoperitoneum standard. However, in high-end optical visualization trocars, robot-specific ports, and ultra-low-resistance dual-seal systems, Ethicon (J&J), Medtronic, and B. Braun still command brand premiums.

Paths to Breakthrough

Under normalized VBP, competing purely on low prices is unsustainable. Companies are differentiating in three directions:

• Product Upgrade:​ Developing optical trocars (transparent tips, visualized entry under scope), variable-diameter seals (5→10 mm universal valves), integrated smoke evacuation channels, and foldable fluid collection cups.
• Total Solution Packages:​ Offering "Trocar + converter + insufflation tubing + specimen bag" laparoscopic starter kits, catering to one-stop procurement needs of county-level hospitals.
• Export Certifications:​ Outputting production capacity to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East through CE MDR and FDA 510(k) certifications - China is already the largest trocar manufacturing base in Asia-Pacific, possessing dual advantages in cost and supply chain.

OEM/ODM Opportunities

For precision machining enterprises (such as Manners Technology), providing full-process OEM services for brand owners - from bright-drawn tubes, Citizen Swiss CNC turning (±0.01 mm), electropolishing, ultrasonic cleaning to injection molding assembly - is a crucial entry point to circumvent terminal VBP price wars. Key competitive strengths lie in: guaranteed debris-free inner walls (manual + machine vision inspection of internal fragments), bubble-free injection molding of transparent tips, and stable coordination of EO sterilization.

Future Outlook:​ Basic models will continue to face VBP price suppression, with profits shifting toward scale enterprises and upstream precision machining. Mid-to-high-end optical and robot-compatible models still enjoy brand premium windows, representing the next strategic focus for leading domestic companies.