The great diaper shortage of 2012/2013
No. Really. From the
UK Telegraph:
Global nappy shortage fears after factory explosion
The blast, which killed a firefighter and injured 35 other emergency service workers, occurred after a fire caused by a chemical reaction broke out on Saturday afternoon at a plant operated by Nippon Shokubai Co. in the city of Himeji, close to Osaka in central Japan.
Nippon Shokubai controls the largest share of the world market for super-absorbent polymers, which is used in the production of nappies, and has been expanding its international sales network to keep up with demand.
A bit more:
Before it was destroyed, the Himeji plant produced 320,000 tons of the super-absorbent polymer, according to the Sankei newspaper, about 20 per cent of the global share.
Emphasis mine -- 20% loss to market? Price spike.
Tip 'o the hat to Peter over at
Bayou Renaissance Man
Posted by DaveH at September 30, 2012 9:29 PM