Market Trends of Global Disposable Face Mask Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Disposable Face Mask Market according to our research experts:
The Non-woven Face Mask Segment is Expected to Record Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
A non-woven face mask protects the user's respiratory tract and filters the air that the user breathes in, thus providing protection from various diseases that may arise due to virus transmission. The mask covers the whole face and protects the face from dust or microorganisms, which may harm the skin. Fibers can be modified with an additive during extrusion before undergoing an electret charging process to add better particle blocking capabilities to this layer. The charged fibers are more effective in keeping particles out.
Non-woven disposable face masks are cheaper to make and cleaner due to their disposable nature. They are made with three or four layers, thus positively impacting the segment's growth.Non-woven masks are manufactured using plastic variants, such as polypropylene, to protect against infections at workplaces. These masks do not contain latex, polyvinyl chloride, and DEPH (di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) material. Non-woven face covers are principally used in the hospital industry and are manufactured using two to three layers of protection. Users prefer these masks for the superior protection they offer against allergic reactions to consumers with sensitive skin.
According to a study published in PLoS One, titled ' Selection of homemade mask materials for preventing transmission of COVID-19: A laboratory study', in October 2020, three double-layer materials, including double-layer medical non-woven fabric, medical non-woven fabric plus non-woven shopping bag, and medical non-woven fabric plus granular tea towel, met all of the pressure difference, particle filtration efficiency, and surface wetting resistance standards and were close to the bacterial filtration efficiency standard. The importance of non-woven masks in bacterial filtration will lead to increased adoption, thereby driving the segment's growth.
There have been several product launches in the market, augmenting the segment's growth. For instance, in March 2020, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) built a new melt-blown non-woven fabric production line in eastern China's Jiangsu Province to bolster the raw material supply of face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Such increasing production lines and the significance of the non-woven face masks are augmenting the segment's growth.
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market During the Forecast Period
In North America, the demand for medical safety equipment like face masks has increased, primarily due to growing outpatient visits and the rising geriatric population. Other factors like the COVID-19 outbreak, also seem to impact the market positively in the short term.
In the United States, the number of hospital admissions has continuously increased over the years. For instance, as per the American Hospital Association (AHA) 2021 report, there were around 36,241,815 total admissions in US hospitals in 2019, with 34,078,100 admissions in community hospitals. Furthermore, as per the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), in 2019-2020, there were around 3 million acute inpatient hospitalizations in Canada, and the hospitalization rate was 7,699 per 100,000 in 2019-2020.
Moreover, the United States has been severely affected by COVID-19. As a result, government and regulatory bodies are taking measures to prevent the further spread of the disease. Companies are also taking the initiative to develop and provide masks to healthcare professionals and others. For instance, in May 2020, SpiderTech launched a disposable face mask, 'DIY kinesiology tape masks', which helps in reducing the contaminants caused due to continuous use of the masks. Hence, these factors are expected to boost the growth of the market.
