US diagnostic imaging market faces tariff-driven supply chain and capital risks, reveals GlobalData

The US diagnostic imaging (DI) market is facing growing pressure as new US tariffs raise procurement risks and threaten supply chains. With high-value systems like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) heavily reliant on global production, hospitals may delay capital spending amid uncertainty. Although domestic manufacturing offers some short-term protection, extended trade tensions could disrupt pricing, planning, and access to critical imaging equipment across the country, says GlobalData.

Diagnostic imaging (DI), which is one of the MedTech industry’s most capital-intensive and strategically vital segments, relies on global production networks and long procurement cycles. Even in absence of major pricing shifts, the perceived instability surrounding policy may prompt hospitals to delay purchases or reassess capital planning, making the sector susceptible to long-term impacts.

GlobalData projects the US diagnostic imaging market to grow from $10.4 billion in 2024 to $15 billion in 2034. While domestic manufacturing may initially protect some vendors from the impact of rising tariffs, they could still face supply chain disruptions, requiring adjustments to manufacturing strategies, pricing structures, and capital expenditure planning if trade tensions continue.

Among the leading DI companies, GE Healthcare stands out with a comparatively large US production operation. GlobalData’s MedSource supply chain database shows that 21 per cent of GE’s 510(k)-approved DI devices are manufactured exclusively in the US, well ahead of Siemens at 12 per cent and Philips at 9 per cent.

Ashley Clarke, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “While a bigger domestic footprint does not make GE immune, it may reduce tariff exposure in the short-term. Devices with US-based final assembly can qualify for origin exemptions, helping maintain competitive pricing if trade volatility continues. GE may have greater pricing flexibility and margin protection, giving it a tactical advantage, but like other companies will still face challenges in raw material and parts procurement and production.”

High-value systems like CT and MRI systems, which together account for more than 20 per cent of the US DI market, rely heavily on global production networks. According to MedSource, Siemens’ flagship SOMATOM CT systems are primarily built in Germany and China, while GE assembles its units in Wisconsin using international components. MRI systems follow similar trends, with components like coils sourced heavily from overseas.

Clarke continues, “The procurement planning for 2025 and beyond could face more scrutiny if pricing or access to key components becomes less certain.”

If trade disruptions extend into next year, both manufacturers and buyers will need to adapt. Vendors with high offshore exposure, particularly those relying on China, India, or EU-based services, may face pressure to localise or diversify production supply chains. With DI systems already representing one of the largest capital expenditures in hospital tech budgets, even modest cost shifts can trigger downstream effects.

Clarke concludes, “Providers are navigating broader cost pressures on other essential medical supplies, so even if DI equipment costs hold, there is growing incentive to delay high-cost imaging upgrades or replacements. Such delays in imaging infrastructure can limit access to timely diagnostics, raising risks for patient outcomes and placing additional strain on the already overburdened healthcare sector.”