Analysis: Demand for PPE in China Escalates
According to new research from Frost & Sullivan, the demand for personal protection equipment in China is surging because of rising safety concerns as well as workers' awareness of their rights to a safe working environment and self-protection. The Chinese government is increasingly emphasizing worker safety issues and strictly enforcing safety laws, compelling enterprises to offer PPE to their employees, the research says.
Because of the new demand, the Chinese PPE market--already highly fragmented and competitive--is experiencing an influx of foreign companies, which are keen to participate in the high-end segment. PPE participants are offering lower prices and differentiating their products to win more customers, especially in the high-end market. Although manufacturers are facing stiff challenges from issues such as inferior products, price sensitivity, and inefficient revisions of regulations and laws, the introduction of sophisticated technology is expected to significantly boost the market, the research notes.
These high-end product improvements need to be conveyed to the end users if adoption rates are to rise substantially, F&S analysts say. Currently, most enterprises show low compliance with health and safety laws, while the inadequate safety consciousness of poorly educated laborers in the mining, heavy metal, and chemical industries serve as another deterrent. F&S says the Chinese PPE users need to be informed of the methods of PPE usage through education and public campaigns.
PPE manufacturers can attract more end users by improving their existing products and introducing new ones through sustained research and development, the researchers note. Makers have to offer high-quality and trouble-free products to ensure that neither workers' safety is compromised nor the enterprise's reputation is diminished, and customers should be informed of the replacement of older PPE products in the market to maintain sustained demand, F&S says.
For more information on the research, titled "Chinese Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Markets," visit www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89453.