In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua
In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua

Coronavirus pandemic

Economy /  China Economy

Coronavirus: China’s mask, gown markets in chaos as shortages of vital raw materials sow more mayhem

  • Prices for surgical gowns and masks have soared, sources said, due to shortages in vital materials such as melt-blown non-woven fabric
  • Industry sources also point to surge in poor quality equipment, lacking in the sorts of raw materials vital to ensure masks are effective

Topic |   Coronavirus pandemic
Finbarr BerminghamSu-Lin Tan
Finbarr Bermingham and Su-Lin Tan

Updated: 7:45am, 25 Apr, 2020

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In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua
In March, China exported almost 4 billion masks, 37.5 million gowns and isolation suits, 16,000 ventilators and almost 4 million coronavirus testing kits, customs officials revealed earlier in April. Photo: Xinhua
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