Masks: Over 10 Million Produced in Japan... Inventory Also Exceeds 20 Million Units

On the 13th, customs officers at the Incheon Airport Import-Export Clearance Building in Yeongjongdo, Jung-gu, Incheon, are displaying masks seized due to smuggling amid the COVID-19 crisis. The Korea Customs Service announced that during the intensive crackdown from the 6th to the 12th of this month to prevent illegal overseas export of masks related to the COVID-19 situation, they blocked 72 cases involving 730,000 masks. / Yeongjongdo ? Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] It has been revealed that more than 10 million domestic health masks are being produced daily.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 18th that, based on the production performance of domestic health masks collected over five days from the 12th to the 16th, domestic mask manufacturers are producing an average of approximately 9.82 million masks per day. On weekdays alone, this number reaches 11.82 million.

The daily shipment volume also approached an average of 9 million masks. On weekdays alone, it far exceeds 10 million. Inventory levels, as of the most recent date, the 16th, stood at 29.11 million masks, nearing 30 million. On the most recent weekday, the 14th, production was 12.66 million masks, and shipments were 15.55 million masks. These figures are based on reports submitted by health mask manufacturers and include the combined totals of KF80, KF94, and KF99 masks.

Earlier, the government recognized that mask hoarding was occurring due to concerns over the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and implemented emergency supply and demand adjustment measures starting on the 12th. Under these measures, mask manufacturers are required to report their daily production and shipment volumes to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety by 12 noon the following day. Violators face imprisonment of up to two years or fines up to 50 million KRW. This is the first time emergency supply and demand adjustment measures have been implemented since the Price Stabilization Act was enacted.

Following the implementation of these measures, the reporting rate among mask manufacturers was found to be around 97%. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "Since the 4th, 12 new health mask manufacturers have been newly licensed, and as these companies begin full-scale production, mask output will increase, contributing to supply stabilization. We will analyze the reported data and, if intentional false or omitted reports are suspected, conduct on-site inspections and take necessary actions."