Manufacturers switch to hand wash as demand of sanitiser plunges
Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, November 16
With the usage of sanitiser on the decline, manufacturers have switched over to hand wash amid surge in demand in the past few months.
Data of the Baddi-based drug control administration show around 141 cosmetic units were engaged in manufacturing handwash and the trade has seen almost 50 per cent growth in four to five months.
Initially, the sale of sanitiser shot up due to the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to use the same to curb the Covid spread.
“Manufacturers were increasingly coming forward to get licence for sanitiser when Covid had spread, but no new licence has been sought in the past three months. This year, 158 manufacturers had sought licence to make sanitiser,” informed Manish Kapoor, Deputy Drug Controller, Baddi.
Sanitser manufacturing was a short-term gain as despite the prevalence of Covid, people have almost become lax. “The scenario has changed after the lockdown was lifted. People no longer wish to use sanitiser, which is considered harmful owing to the presence of alcohol,” says Sanjay Sharma, a manufacturer who sold sanitiser worth Rs 2.5 crore this season.
“The demand for sanitiser surged in April, but it began declining in July. Now, there is hardly any demand. I have switched over to handwash manufacturing whose demand has seen a 100 per cent hike since July,’’ he added.
Another manufacturer said losses were incurred after initial profits as the price of isopropyl alcohol, used for making sanitiser, fell from Rs 360 per kg to Rs 85 per kg and traders’ high costing sanitiser failed to find buyers.
“An increase of about 25% has been witnessed in the handwash business after sanitiser demand reduced drastically,” informed SL Singla, adviser, Himachal Drug Manufacturers’ Association. “Users opt for branded sanitisers and its use continues to be restricted as it is costlier vis-à-vis soap and tendency to discontinue its use after a short period is being seen among consumers,” he added.
