Middle East & Africa Hand Sanitizer Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The Middle East & Africa hand sanitizer market is projected to grow with a CAGR of 5.1%, during the forecast period (2020-2025).

Key Highlights

• The recent COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020 has spurred the market for hand sanitizer. This outbreak has reinforced the significance of regular hand sanitizing and cleaning practices among consumers and is thus among the prominent factors driving the market. However, the prices of hand sanitizers have witnessed a surge by retailers across several international markets, due to the swelling demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Furthermore, in an effort to increase awareness about the importance of infection control, some of the schools, especially in the developed countries across the region, have implemented educational programs on the topic. Also, manufacturers campaignings through social and mass media, as the majority of the young population (aged between 16 and 34 years) access the internet, have propelled the demand for hand sanitizers across the region. For instance, lifebuoy initiated commercials telecasting celebrities, which contributed to in spreading awareness regarding their product category.​
• In addition, the demand for hand hygiene products has been exceeding the supply in both online as well as brick and mortar sale channels worldwide owing to the global outbreak of the virus in a short time span.

Key Market Trends

Rising Awareness towards Hand Hygiene owing to Rising Coronavirus Disease Cases in the Region

• The growing preventive measures due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak is escalating healthcare spending and surging the sales of hand sanitizers through favorable government and non-government organizations initiatives. According to the WHO, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased rapidly at the beginning of 2020, with the highest cases in Iran among the Middle East and African countries, with 2,987 new confirmed cases as of April 2, 2020. So far, Iran has announced that more than 18,400 people have tested positive for the virus, and 1,284 have died from the disease, although the real figures are likely to be much higher.
• Moreover, the increased usage of hand sanitizers is being recommended by the World Health Organization, Centre For Disease Control and Prevention, and doctors across the region, who are claiming the use of alcohol-based hand rub to be one of the most effective precautions observed against the virus, thereby driving the market growth.

South Africa Market to Hold the Major Share

• By country, South Africa is expected to witness the highest contribution in the market owing to high awareness existing among consumers about hand hygiene. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa as of May 6, 2020, were the highest in the Gauteng (with 1720 cases), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (with 1189 cases), and Eastern Cape (with 849 cases).
• The increasing demand in the market has attracted many prominent players to enter the market in the country. For instance, Revlon SA donated 10,000 hand sanitizers to the Gauteng department of health in May 2020, by manufacturing hand sanitizers at its local factory in Isando under its brand, Aquamarine, owing to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region. Also, Sasol Ltd. the oil and chemicals company is producing alcohol for hand sanitizers and disinfectants and prioritizing local supply to help contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Competitive Landscape

The Middle East & Africa hand sanitizer market is competitive in nature having a large number of domestic and multinational players competing for market share. Emphasis is given on the merger, expansion, acquisition, and partnership of the companies along with new product development as strategic approaches adopted by the leading companies to boost their brand presence among consumers. Key players dominating the regional market include Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever, Clicks Group, and The Cape Town Toiletry Co., among others.

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• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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