Andhra Pradesh: Local sanitizers give legacy brands a run for their money

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Covid-19 pandemic, which has immensely pushed up the demand for sanitizers, has also led to domestic sanitizer manufacturing industries mushrooming across the state. Consequently, traditional sanitizer manufacturers are facing a great deal of competition and the market has undergone a significant change.
Sanitizer manufacturing units, who have been in the business for decades and have approvals of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not only been forced to reduce prices but have also started packing sanitizers in smaller containers to address household demand, the space which has largely been taken up by domestic manufacturers.

S Dhanesh, a leading sanitizer wholesaler in Visakhapatnam said, “The bulk sanitizer business is not new in Andhra Pradesh. We have been selling FDA-approved sanitizers for years. But our primary customers were hospitals and industries. But in the last three months, our business periphery has increased and now we are catering to different types of clientele.”
Traders say that earlier most sanitizer manufacturers used to sell 5 litre to 50 litre jars. Industries and hospitals would purchase these and prices would go down for consumers buying in bigger quantities. “But now, we are selling even 10ml sanitizer packs. In fact, demand for mini packs has increased considerably over the last three months as hotels, restaurants, offices, marriage halls and households are buying sanitizers,” said K Pushpak, a wholesale sanitizer distributor from Kakinada.
Over the last few months, many educational institutes, chemical plants who used to manufacture other stuff and even households have started manufacturing alcohol-based sanitizers. Although these sanitizers do not have FDA approval, there is huge demand for these because: one, they are easily available and two, they are cheaper.
“In order to keep pace with these locally-manufactured sanitizers, the old-timers have also reduced their price. In March, we used to buy 5litres of sanitizer for Rs 2,000 and sell them for Rs 2,400. Now, we are buying 5 litres for Rs 650 and are selling it for Rs 900. There has been a drastic change in price,” Dhanesh, the wholesaler from Visakhapatnam added.