Delays in supply and inflation have so far affected almost all consumer products, but now U.S. women have to deal with a shortage of tampons and other feminine hygiene products as well. In the week following the publication of an article in Time magazine calling for a shortage of tampons and pads “the shortage that no one talks about.”
“I have not seen such products in stores for months,” wrote a Reddit user. “I ordered tampons from Amazon, but the price stunned me.” Tampon prices have risen significantly – by nearly 10 percent from last year, according to Bloomberg – but an Amazon spokesman denied allegations of price increases due to the situation, saying the company’s policy “helps ensure sellers price their products competitively” and that the company actively monitors prices And removes from its platform those that violate its pricing policies.
The shortage is probably due to the constraints of supply chains of materials such as cotton and plastic, which are also used in hygiene products, which have been in high demand since the onset of the plague. The war in Ukraine further hit the supply chains as Russia and Ukraine are large exporters of fertilizers, necessary for growing cotton. In addition, the severe drought in Texas further exacerbated the situation.
A shortage of raw materials that create bottlenecks is not unique to feminine hygiene products, but similar to the shortage of baby food in the U.S., there is a constant demand for them, and they cannot be easily replaced. Sultan, VP of Finance at Procter & Gamble, which owns Tempax and Always brands. According to the company, one of the main reasons for the increase in demand is an advertising campaign featuring comedian Amy Schumer. Since the launch of the ad in July 2020, “retail sales have soared,” the company said.