China to churn out 100bn masks this year in pandemic's wake

Output jumps 20-fold as government pushes diplomacy and reopening economy

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A mask factory operated by Guangzhou Automobile Group: Companies outside the medical sector have joined the effort to meet global demand. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)

TAKASHI KAWAKAMI, Nikkei staff writer

GUANGZHOU, China -- Chinese production of face masks is on track to surge to more than 20 times the 2019 total this year amid a scramble to keep up with demand fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.

The country is expected to churn out 102.5 billion masks in 2020, 20.5 times last year's output, according to Guangzhou-based iiMedia Research.

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