04.20.17
According to a report in the Nikkei Asian Review, Japanese diaper maker Unicharm recently opened its third plant in Saudi Arabia. The new factory, next to another manufacturing center in Riyadh, cost a few billion yen (1 billion yen equals $9.1 million). Along with diapers, the facility will produce sanitary products.
Although the plant's production capabilities have not been publicized, the new facilities are larger than those at Unicharm's other two Saudi factories. This suggests that the company has secured the space needed to implement its plan to eventually double output capacity in the kingdom. Unicharm converted Gulf Hygienic Industries, a local manufacturer of infant diapers, into a subsidiary in 2005. Five years later, the unit started its second factory.
The market for diapers in the Middle East is growing rapidly along with the population. Unicharm's sales in the region appear to have risen by double digits in fiscal 2016. The Japanese multinational also opened a diaper factory in Egypt in 2012.
Although the plant's production capabilities have not been publicized, the new facilities are larger than those at Unicharm's other two Saudi factories. This suggests that the company has secured the space needed to implement its plan to eventually double output capacity in the kingdom. Unicharm converted Gulf Hygienic Industries, a local manufacturer of infant diapers, into a subsidiary in 2005. Five years later, the unit started its second factory.
The market for diapers in the Middle East is growing rapidly along with the population. Unicharm's sales in the region appear to have risen by double digits in fiscal 2016. The Japanese multinational also opened a diaper factory in Egypt in 2012.