Australia is breaking new ground in medical technology. For manufacturers looking to expand across APAC, the possibilities go well beyond a single market.
With more than 850 medtech, medical device and diagnostics companies, Australia ranks seventh globally for health science and clinical trials research. Its medical technology market is forecast to grow from A$10.5 billion in 2025 to A$12.8 billion by 2028, and this is creating significant opportunities for medical device manufacturers.
Beyond the market figures, Australia's contribution to medical technology is even more interesting, with implantable devices, advanced diagnostics, connected monitoring and AI-enabled systems changing what medical devices can do, how they're used and the role they play in patient care.
These advances also change what manufacturers need from their supply chains. A device that must be configured, connected, maintained or replaced places very different demands on logistics than one that simply needs to be shipped.
But innovation alone isn't enough to open the gate.
New markets bring their own challenges. Different regulatory frameworks, customs requirements, healthcare systems, and distribution models mean that for medical device manufacturers, expanding throughout APAC requires navigating these differences while maintaining visibility, quality, and control.
Delivery. Only a part of the device journey.
From clinical evaluation to commercial deployment, medical devices demand specialist storage, handling and distribution. But depending on the application, the journey can begin long before dispatch, with devices requiring preassembly, configuration, software setup, connectivity checks or specialist packaging before they're ready to depart.
From installation and asset tracking to technical support, replacement, repair, and returns, demands continue after deployment, and manufacturers must consider how they'll manage devices throughout their lifecycle.
Across APAC, these requirements become more demanding as manufacturers navigate different markets, healthcare systems and operational environments, with each stage bringing its own challenges and every new market adding another layer.
Getting a device delivered is one thing. Making it real-world ready is another.
Traceability. Looking beyond the label.
Australia's phased Unique Device Identification (UDI) requirements, which began in July 2026 for certain higher-risk medical devices, reinforce the importance of device identification and traceability throughout the lifecycle. For manufacturers, this brings greater attention to production information and the records that support traceability.
Know the device. See beyond borders.
Operational visibility means knowing where devices are stored, how they're handled and where shipments are heading. Whether inventory is available, a delivery is delayed, or a device is ready for its next stage. Access to this information helps manufacturers make informed decisions, respond to disruption and maintain continuity, keeping medical technology moving across APAC.
Local logistics. Regional reach. Global connection.
As programs move from clinical evaluation towards commercial deployment, supply chains must adapt to changing volumes, technical requirements, and distribution models. Building that continuity across multiple markets takes local knowledge, regional infrastructure, and global connections.
Local. Our Horsley Park facility in Sydney is GMP- and GDP-certified, giving manufacturers a local base to manage inventory, coordinate medical device movements and support their growing operations. Alongside specialist storage, distribution and deployment capabilities, we provide white-glove delivery right through to installation points at hospitals and clinical sites.
The facility also has a dedicated 100 sqm redressing room and storage across the full temperature range, with two loading docks fitted with fast-action sensor seals to help maintain stable temperatures during loading and unloading. The facility's design also supports UPS's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Across Australia, facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth provide third-party logistics (3PL) services nationally across all temperature zones. At the same time, our own fleet handles national transportation to major hospitals and research institutes, minimizing handoffs between carriers.
Regional. Our APAC network spans multiple markets, from New Zealand and Singapore to China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Dedicated medical device warehouses in Singapore, Hong Kong and Auckland, along with bonded warehouses in Singapore, Shanghai and Incheon, give manufacturers more flexibility in where devices are held and when they clear customs. In Shanghai, our bonded warehouse in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone holds ISO 13485 certification and accreditation under China’s Good Supply Practice (GSP) for medical devices, giving manufacturers a compliant base close to one of the region’s largest healthcare markets.
Serving as a regional hub, Singapore is home to our largest healthcare-focused facility in the region, alongside GDP-certified warehousing and a GMP-certified depot, with further GMP and GDP certification underway across our Singapore sites. Across our Singapore network, warehouses holding ISO 13485 certification and accreditation under Singapore's Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices (GDPMDS) offer ambient and 2-8°C storage. By positioning inventory closer to demand, manufacturers can plan replenishment, respond to changing requirements, and support expansion into new markets.
Global. Through the UPS Healthcare global network and our precision logistics expertise, manufacturers can access international transportation, customs coordination and specialist healthcare handling, with the reach to support clinical and commercial distribution across markets.
Connection. The real value comes from bringing these capabilities together. From preparing devices for deployment and managing regional inventory to coordinating international movements, distribution and returns, manufacturers can manage more of their operations through one connected logistics model.
Connected through collaboration.
The real test of collaboration comes when plans change, demand shifts, or a device needs to move between markets. Different import requirements, clinical site arrangements, and delivery schedules all bring their own challenges. Devices may need configuring before deployment, inventory repositioned as demand changes, and replacements delivered when they're needed.
Coordinating those moving parts takes more than transportation; it takes partnership and precision. It requires local expertise, regional oversight, and access to the right information when decisions need to be made.
Our specialist teams and control tower oversight help maintain visibility across the supply chain, coordinating movements and managing exceptions from inventory and customs to specialist handling, distribution and returns. The focus is on identifying issues early and responding before they become bigger problems.
