It forecasts that the global baby diapers market would reach $59.4 billion by 2020. Overall, disposable diapers segment garnered about 66% market share in the baby diapers market owing to unique features such as ultra-absorbency, range of ergonomic shapes and sizes. The environmentally friendly and re-usability features of ‘cloth diapers’ would propel the baby diapers’ market and these features eventually would lead to substantial market growth during the forecast period (as opposed to other segments). Most of the leading market players are focusing on sophisticated marketing programs and aggressive market expansion strategies, thus increasing suppliers’ businesses. Geographically, increasing purchasing power, growing awareness and enhanced supply-side infrastructure in rural areas have influenced the growth of the Asia Pacific regional diapers’ market. The developed countries such as U.S., Canada and others are utilizing non-renewable sources to manufacture disposable diapers that consume ~300 pounds of wood, ~20 pounds of chlorine and ~50 pounds of petroleum to produce diapers for a baby per year. Such environmental-burden has prompted stringent regulatory restrictions on manufacturing disposable diapers. The switching of disposable diapers to environmentally-friendly ‘cloth and bio-degradable’ diapers is thus an imperative for all manufacturing companies. In accordance with the afore-mentioned trend, high growth rate is estimated for the ‘pre-fold cloth’ diapers’ market.
Key findings of the study:

Disposable diapers dominates the global baby diaper market having 66% of the market share in 2013
Super absorbent disposable diapers is expected to dominate overall disposable diapers market through 2020
Bio-degradable market is expected to be a key high-growth market with about 10% CAGR during 2013-2020
Cloth diapers is expected to be the third largest market segment as it is eco-friendly in nature as well as cost effective
The environmentally friendly and design related features of cloth and bio-degradable diapers has increased their usage in all the geographic regions.

Typically, China and India (within the Asia-Pacific region) are the most populous countries with high birth rates; for example, India’sbirth rate is ~21 crude births per 1,000 population as compared with ~13 crude births per 1,000 population in the U.S. (census: 2009-2013). Such high end-user base market in the Asia-Pacific region has attracted many foreign players to manufacture and/or supply diapers within this region. Enabling regulatory (environmental) policies and other supporting infrastructure from the government, has also attracted many local/domestic players to the market. Such factors have strengthened the supply-side infrastructure. Coupled with the increasing purchasing power, and growing awareness in context of infant hygiene, have cumulatively rendered to the growth of the Asia-Pacific baby diapers’ market.

P&G and Kimberly Clark dominate the baby diapers market owing to comprehensive product/variant lines. Many other companies such as SCA Hygiene and Unicharm are launching unique-feature enhanced products to meet design and dryness demand of consumers. Moreover, in 2014, top brands like Huggies and Pampers have donated 26000 and 40000 diapers to North Calorina Diaper Bank which would act as an important move in creating awareness among the people. Apart from launching enhanced products, companies also focus on inorganic growth strategies such as acquisition and collaborations. Recently, Domtar acquired AHP to enhance its product portfolio. Companies are also participating and promoting diaper banks that eventually results in enhancing their user base. Key companies profiled in the report include Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, SCA Hygiene, Hengan, Unicharm, KAO Corporation, SCA Hygiene Products, American Baby Company, Diapees and Wipees and Bumkins.”