Chinese sanitary napkins and baby diapers producer Hengan International Group Co. Ltd. will sell tampons in its home market, challenging global brands including Procter & Gamble Co., the Nikkei Asian Review reported March 23, citing CEO Lin-Chit Hui's statement at a press conference in Hong Kong.
Hengan has a market share of more than 20% of menstrual pad sales in China. Hui reportedly said the group has been preparing to launch tampons in the country since 2017.
Citing a 2015 survey from Cotton Inc., the Nikkei said only 2% of Chinese women have used the product, with a majority of them saying they do not know how to use it or they have never heard of it.
The report added that Hengan's profit margin in 2017 dropped to 46.9% from 48.8% following declines in its tissue paper, sanitary napkins and disposable diapers segments.
