Australian Condom Brand Stands to Benefit from China's Sex Education Campaign
An Australia-based condom brand stands to profit from China's sex education campaign. The Ansell condom is known in China as "Jissbon" and is well-placed to benefit from this national revolution in sexual education.
The high demand for condoms in China is spurred by the increasing number of patients with HIV, syphilis, genital herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases. The use of intrauterine devices and sterilisation are regular birth control methods in the world's second-largest economy.
According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, an estimated 9.2 billion condoms were sold in China in 2012. Condom sales are expected to reach 14.6 billion by 2018 due to the rapid growth of products related to reproductive healthcare.
The head of Ansell's Chinese unit, Mickie Leong, says "Jissbon" condom will serve a growing and massive market for many years to come. When pronounced in Chinese, "Jissbon" sounds like "James Bond".
Chinese consumers have become more knowledgeable and liberal in their use of condoms as they understand the need for pleasure, safety and disease prevention.
Sex education is not common in Chinese schools unlike those in Western countries. The government is looking to change the nation's perspective on sex.
Colleges like the Tsinghua University holds classes on sex education and gives away free condoms in the school's vending machines.
The condom market is predicted to increase by 9 per cent annually. By 2018, condom sales will reach $1 billion to benefit big condom makers like Ansell and Reckitt Benckiser Group which is also the manufacturer of top-selling Durex condoms.
The use of condoms in China is growing locally. Melbourne-based Ansell bought Jissbon Sanitary Products in 2006, and it has annual revenue of $12 million. The company is the second-biggest condom manufacturer in China based on a Credit Suisse report on June 21. "Jissbon" has a 10 per cent share in the Chinese condom market.