How to bask in the biz of masks

There are more than 530 million workers in the second-and third-tier cities. They each need at least one face mask every day, said a report from Hua Chuang Securities.

Lian Weiliang, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said during a news conference earlier this month that to ensure adequate supplies not just in smaller cities but countrywide, the government is encouraging mask producers to operate at full capacity.

According to the NDRC, by Feb 29, the country's daily production of face masks reached 116 million pieces, up 1,100 percent from the level on Feb 1. Among them, the daily production of surgical N95 type masks reached 1.66 million pieces.

According to Tianyancha, a Chinese corporate data provider, East China's Shandong province tops the list with 1,094 mask manufacturers that make 2 million pieces daily, followed by Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Other provinces are also ramping up efforts. For example, as reported by bjnews, the Beijing municipal government has retrofitted 23 old production lines to make 80,000 high-quality masks per hour.

Similarly, Chinese companies engaged in non-medical businesses have improvised or innovated their factories to produce masks. For instance, Shenzhen-based carmaker BYD announced on Feb 8 it will expand its product portfolio to produce masks and disinfectants. The company said its daily production capacity for masks is estimated to reach 1 million pieces by the end of this month.

Shanghai-based underwear brand Threegun Group has also jumped on the mask bandwagon. Its pilot production line is capable of producing 40 masks per minute, and full-fledged machinery upon installation will ramp up production to over 100 masks per minute. In all, the company plans to install 50 mask production lines to raise daily production to 5 million masks.