Are you looking to purchase face mask in these Corona virus pandemic days? But, you are not able to get your desired face mask in the market. Here, some interesting facts about the face mask in our country.
There are around 238 million disposable masks usually produced by Indian Mask Manufacturers every year. These masks are primarily for domestic use, as per the estimates of the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry. But due to Covid-19 outbreak, this number has increased very sharply. These manufacturers as well as distributors are now a days in an overdrive to meet the steep surge in demand for masks, protective gear, and other medical equipment.
In our country, there are no large-scale manufacturers of surgical masks, the landscape has been dominated with a production capacity of approximately 10,000 to 1,00,000 masks a day by a high number of fragmented small and medium-sized companies.
The Industry experts cite the phenomenon of binge fear buying, as people run to medical stores to get their masks either simple surgical face mask or N95 face mask to protect themselves from coronavirus.
The surgical face mask average manufacturing cost is around 40-45 paise only, whereas in case of N95 mask the average manufacturing cost is approximately Rs. 10-12. But both types of mask are being sold at very higher prices due to present market situations.
There is shortage of face masks in our domestic market. This is happening because of corona virus epidemic . There has been an upward revision in prices also.
As per the Doctor’s opinion, the face masks definitely reduce spread of the virus from infected persons. N95 masks provides protection to healthy and normal individuals against the virus to some extent.
The estimated cotton mask market in India is of approximately $95 million. It grew by 6 percent during the Delhi pollution crisis few months ago. In the present corona virus situation, it has suddenly grown by 29 to 35 percent because of shortage of cotton masks in the country. Due to shortage of the masks in some regions, it is reported that the retailers are demanding Rupees 50.00 or more . In case of demand from rural and semi urban areas, where the common people are not able to afford the high prices of surgical as well as N95 mask, the people are demanding simple cotton masks.
There is a huge demand of the N95 respirator, an industrial-purpose face mask, as people want to protect themselves from the corona virus. Even alcohol-based hand sanitizers are selling like hot cakes . Many people are buying these in huge quantities in panic. As a result retailers and shopkeepers are making steep profits by selling masks and sanitizers at exorbitant prices. The vendors are also selling substandard face masks in the domestic market because of a shortage of supply of quality masks.
In the three-ply face masks, there is a micro-filter which is generally fitted between two layers . It is also used by the doctors during their surgical procedures. Now, for the Indian markets, the manufacturers are preparing substandard face masks without this filter. For export purpose they are supplying the good quality masks.
Ramesh M. Hingu
AGM & Director, SBILD Aurangabad.
