Newscasts - Aging world: in Japan, adult diapers outsell baby ones

Daio Paper

12/07/2024 06:16

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Source: 'Reuters - Business videos'

Description: More companies in Japan are moving from producing diapers for
babies and switching to adult customers, a move in line with the country’s
declining birth rate and ageing population. Julian Satterthwaite reports.
Short Link: https://refini.tv/46ieguZ

Video Transcript:

Call it a sign of the times. In Japan, adult diapers are starting to outsell
those for babies. That as birthrates there plummet and society ages. Around
29% of the country’s population is now over 65-years-old and that
percentage is only set to grow. Meanwhile, the number of babies born in the
country fell for an eighth year in 2023. At diaper maker Daio Paper, near
Mount Fuji, factory manager Naoto Sugaya says the trend is clear.

The number of diapers we're producing is increasing year by year, thanks to
the growing market for adult diapers in Japan. We're also producing a wide
variety of diapers on account of the growing number of customers.

Over the five years to 2027, Japan’s adult diaper market is forecast to
grow 16% to over $600 million. Meanwhile, sales of baby diapers are set to
shrink 8% to around $530 million. One big maker, Oji Holdings, has already
said it will stop selling baby diapers altogether. At Daio Paper they’ve
got no plans to stop making products for kids, but they’re no longer the
priority. Marketing manager Kenji Nakata says the firm is shifting its
resources to focus on the adult market. They’re also working to develop
diapers that are discreet and can be worn without embarrassment. With
countries around the world facing aging populations, Japan may not be the last
to see diapers find new customers