Beautiful Plants For Your Interior
Date: November 15, 2023
Source: Global Commodity Insights
The sanitary pad manufacturing sector is grappling with prolonged pressure on its core raw material supply chains. The price of fluff pulp—the wood pulp that forms the absorbent base layer—remains elevated due to reduced output from major producers in North America and Scandinavia, coupled with increased demand from the packaging and tissue sectors. Simultaneously, the cost of Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), the petroleum-derived crystal that locks in fluid, is intrinsically linked to volatile crude oil and natural gas prices, which have seen geopolitical premiums. Furthermore, non-woven fabric for top sheets, often made from polypropylene, faces constraints from limited petrochemical feedstock availability in Asia. Major players like Kimberly-Clark and Unicharm report implementing multi-pronged strategies: securing long-term supply contracts, diversifying sourcing geographically, and optimizing material usage per pad through advanced engineering. Some are also accelerating the integration of recycled SAP and pulp alternatives to build resilience. This persistent cost pressure is expected to lead to further consolidation among smaller manufacturers and may spur more brands to gradually pass on costs to consumers in 2024.
