Market Trends of Global Disposable Face Mask Industry
Personnel Application Segment is Expected to Record Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
The growth of the disposable face mask market presents various opportunities for personnel applications. The segment includes the usage of disposable masks to prevent infection among personnel. Infections that spread among hospitals are termed hospital-acquired infections, which are becoming more common nowadays and are expected to increase the usage of disposable face masks to prevent the spread. Hence, the growing burden of hospital-acquired infections is expected to drive the segment growth over the study period.
For instance, according to data published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in June 2024, 37% of recorded healthcare-acquired complications in 2023 in Australia were caused by healthcare-associated infections, followed by delirium at 13% and cardiac complications at 12%. This shows the significantly high percentage of healthcare-associated infections, which include influenza and pneumonia, that are likely to boost the segment growth over the study period.
Furthermore, the usage of disposable face masks, including surgical face masks, helps prevent various infectious diseases. For instance, according to an article published by the British Medical Journal in July 2024, publicly wearing a surgical face mask for over 14 days lowers the likelihood of experiencing self-reported respiratory infection symptoms. These studies likely increase the demand for the disposable face masks which is expected to boost the segment growth over the forecast period,
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market During the Forecast Period
In North America, the demand for medical safety equipment like face masks has increased, primarily due to growing outpatient visits and the rising geriatric population. Other factors like the outbreak of infectious diseases, also seem to impact the market positively in the short term. Moreover, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics report 2023, approximately 2 million children and adolescents were admitted to hospitals in the United States annually. The high number of hospital visits is elevating the need for disposable masks to protect patients, doctors, and other hospital personnel. Hence, such factors are elevating the market growth in the region.
Furthermore, the approval of the new disposable face masks in the region is expected to increase the availability of these products, thereby boosting the market growth in the area. For instance, in March 2023, the Food and Drug Administration updated and reissued the umbrella Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for disposable, single-use surgical masks designed for healthcare professionals in medical settings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The revision permits the emergency use of surgical masks solely from the list in Appendix A of the EUA. These products help prevent the spread of infections, which is expected to raise the demand for disposable face masks, propelling the region's market growth.
Therefore, factors such as the greater number of hospital admissions with infections and new product regulatory updates in the region are expected to significantly grow the market over the forecast period.
