Extreme competition in the baby diaper market—like in many other consumer areas—has prevented manufacturers from significantly raising prices for several years. In fact, the average price of a disposable diaper has actually decreased over the years despite increased sophistication. This will soon have to change, however, as suppliers to this market are feeling the pinch of increasing raw material prices.
In the end, it will be the consumer who will have to absorb these added costs. In fact, Joe Citizen is paying more for gasoline, home heating costs and a laundry list of other products, thanks to petroleum supply problems felt around the world. What this will mean for the economy is anyone’s guess but many experts predict that tough times are ahead not only in the U.S. but around the world.
If this is the case, it won’t be the first time the nonwovens industry has had to weather economic trials. Luckily, many of the key markets for nonwoven are somewhat recession-proof. Babies will still need to be diapered and air will still have to be filtered, no matter what the world economic indexes are doing. Still, nonwovens manufacturers and users will have to come up with some creative ways to keep costs as low as possible.
