Disposable Respirator Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Increasing Production Lines Of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - As a result of COVID-19, the Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturing industry has become one of the most important industries in the United States. There is a high demand for PPE such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and rubber boots. Each month, 90 million masks are needed for health responders around the world.
• Rise in Income Levels of Households - The rise in disposable income levels of households has enabled them to buy more non-essential items like disposable respirators, which helps to protect against airborne pollutants, allergens, and other hazards. Based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal income of individuals increased by 131.1 billion (0.6 percent) as of January 2023, and the disposable personal income of households rose to USD 387.3 billion (2.0 percent) as of the same month.
• Increasing Demand for N95 Masks - The demand for N95 masks has been increasing since the COVID-19 outbreak, as they are better at filtering out particles and providing a higher level of protection than regular face masks. For instance, the total production of N95 masks worldwide by 3M, an American multinational conglomerate with interests in healthcare and consumer goods, was approximately 2 billion units in 2020. Estimates put the production rate in 2021 at 2.7 billion units. This increased demand is driving the demand for disposable respirators, as they are the masks most capable of providing the best protection.
• Increasing Number Of Infrastructure Projects And Activities - For instance, a national master plan for multi-modal connectivity was launched by the Indian government in New Delhi under the name Gati Shakti.   Several ministries, including Railways and Roadways, will be brought together through Gati Shakti - a digital platform aimed at developing integrated infrastructure connectivity plans and coordinating their implementation. As infrastructure projects increase, there is more demand for workers which increases the need for personal protective equipment. This includes disposable respirators that help protect workers from dust and other harmful particles.
• Rising Prevalence Of Respiratory Diseases Such As Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - COPD is caused by long-term exposure to substances that irritate and damage the lungs. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common, owing to air pollution, smoking, and other environmental factors. According to the World Health Organization, COPD is the third leading cause of premature death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in the year 2019. Moreover, tobacco smoking is responsible for over 70% of COPD cases in countries with high incomes. As a result, the demand for disposable respirators has increased as people seek to protect themselves from further damage to their lungs.

Challenges

• Emergence of substitute products -With the increasing technological advancements, manufacturers of disposable respirators are facing the challenge of substitute products such as reusable respirators that are made with superior quality materials, and are eco-friendly options. This is making disposable respirators less appealing to consumers, hence hampering the growth of the market.
• Availability of counterfeit products
• Stringent environmental regulations