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Date Published: 05/11/2021
ARCHIVED - Mask sales plummet in Malaga with relaxed restrictions
The supply crisis is also affecting manufactures throughout Andalucía
While Spain struggled to get hold of protective face masks at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the relaxation of restrictions in Malaga has led to plummeting sales. In recent months masks have almost become a fashion accessory, available in a range of colours and patterns and people never left home without them. Now, however, suppliers are feeling the pinch as residents ditch the mask in most outdoor spaces.
Groupo OHP began manufacturing face masks in the Santa Cruz industrial estate at the height of their demand, and while sales to the pharmaceutical sector have dwindled in recent weeks, there has been an upturn in other areas, such as work and leisure.
"Since the theatres and restaurants were opened at full capacity, many people have stopped teleworking and the mask is mandatory in the workplace, orders have risen a lot”, according to Pablo Krauel, the Group’s technician.
He added that the company foresees an even sharper decline in demand around the middle of next year, when restrictions are expected to be relaxed even further. For the moment though, in Malaga, there is still a healthy market for masks in the likes of the hospitality industry.
The crisis affecting international freight transport is also impacting the pharmaceutical sector in Malaga, with many suppliers warning that mask orders could soon be delayed. In the case of Groupo OHP, had they not placed their order for the raw materials necessary to manufacture masks in time, they would have been forced to halt production.
At the moment, most of the required materials come from China and if prices for shipping containers continue to skyrocket it is likely that many of the manufacturers in Spain will shut up shop as the process will become too expensive.
Image: Archive
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