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Sanitary Product Manufacturing in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
Revenue is estimated to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.9% over the five years through 2025-26 to £3.8 billion. Sanitary products are a must, which keeps sales volume steady, but people will trade down to cheaper toilet rolls and the like when economic conditions are poor – especially during the cost-of-living crisis. As inflation has crept up over 2025-26, compared to 2024-25, advances at the more affordable end of the market are driving improvements in the quality of low-cost products, fuelling price competition. The expansion and growing popularity of discount stores (think Aldi and Lidl) is giving the penetration of cheaper alternatives an even bigger boost. Larger, more established sanitary product manufacturers rely on their well-known brand names to ensure stable sales, whereas smaller manufacturers compete by offering lower prices.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code C17.220. Companies in this industry convert sanitary paper stock, wadding, pulp or paper into sanitary products like toilet paper, facial tissues, handkerchiefs, table napkins, kitchen towels, disposable nappies, sanitary towels and tampons. The final products are sold to wholesalers for distribution, straight to retailers or directly to large commercial customers. Related terms covered in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include sanitary towel, incontinence, wood pulp and cellulose wadding.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Personal-care products, Toilet paper and Paper tableware.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Essity UK Ltd, Kimberly-Clark Ltd and Sofidel UK Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £3.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 126 businesses in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom are Essity UK Ltd, Kimberly-Clark Ltd and Sofidel UK Ltd
What does the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Toilet paper and Personal-care products are part of the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is Essity UK Ltd.
How competitive is the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Sanitary Product Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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