Diapers are on display at a discount store in Seoul in this file photo. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 21 (Korea Bizwire) — The production and import of adult diapers is close to exceeding double the production and import of diapers for children due to the low birthrate and rapidly aging society, data showed Thursday.
Last year’s supply of adult diapers, combining domestic production and imports, reached 107,129 tons, which was 1.8 times the supply of children’s diapers, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
The supply of diapers for children dropped by 15.3 percent from 2021, and in comparison to 2019, the decrease was 23.4 percent.
In contrast, the supply of adult diapers dropped by 4.3 percent compared to 2021 but rose by 24.1 percent from 2019.
However, in terms of value, the production of children’s diapers reached 216.5 billion won (US$168 million), whereas adult diapers amounted to 97.2 billion won, indicating that the market for children’s diapers was still larger.
Last year, South Korea’s total production of sanitary products, including diapers, reached 2.27 trillion won, which was up by 13.7 percent from the previous year.
The total imports amounted to 460.4 billion won, showing an increase of 16.3 percent.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
