Unicharm’s net sales of ¥510,893 million ($4.6 billion) from January 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016, were down 3.4% compared to net sales of ¥529,071 million ($4.8 billion) in the January 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015 time period.

In the Personal Care segment, sales were ¥445,264 million ($4.01 billion) in January 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016, down from ¥463,860 million ($4.2 billion) in the January 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015 time period.

In Unicharm’s Baby Care Products business overseas, the company continued to strengthen its internet sales and worked to build name recognition for the Moony series in China, where demand for high value-added imports from Japan, which has a reputation for safety, is high, as well as to promote pants-type disposable diapers. In India, where the use of disposable diapers is still quite low even among emerging countries, Unicharm expanded its sales area and market shares while promoting pants-type disposable diapers.

In Japan, the Company added the world’s first “pocket for soft stools” with a three-dimensional design to the Moony Man Air Fit S-size diapers to fit comfortably on the baby’s skin while preventing leakage. This product has been refined to reduce leakage from the back for babies wearing the S-size diaper, a period when the volume of soft stools increase. The company also devised a Halloween design in the Mamy Poko series with a charming Disney character design and superior absorbency, and also worked to create a powerful lineup and strengthen relations in sub-category products such as pants-type products for children with bed-wetting problems and training pants.

For its Feminine Care business overseas, the company’s high-quality products featuring attractive designs remain highly popular with the younger generation in China, according to Unicharm. Also, the company has been actively expanding its sales area for products tailored to customer needs in emerging countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, in hopes of increasing its market share.

In Japan, the Sofy Air Fit Slim, a thin napkin that gives the user the sense that they are not wearing a pad, has been very popular with customers and won great support, the company says. Unicharm also carried out a limited release of the Cool Skin series, which has better ventilation that can be worn comfortably during warm seasons without sweating. This was featured in the Sofy Ultra Sound Sleep series, which support deep sleep with peace of mind and the Sofy Hada Omoi, a gentle solution for sensitive skin. In its Center-in Compact series, which offers a compact shape, the company launched the limited release of a design planned in collaboration with the magazine ViVi as “the cutest napkin in women’s history.”

In the domestic market for healthcare products, which continues to grow as Japan’s population of the elderly grows, the company has been working to educate the public about products that enable elderly people to continue with their current lifestyle as before. Along with the Lifree Comfortable Pads series, which are incontinence care products for men designed to prevent urine leakage and stains on trousers and the Charm Nap series of absorbent napkins, the company has continued its efforts to remove resistance to using these products by conveying that everyone has light incontinence. In nursing care products, along with the Lifree series, Unicharm has also actively promoted its products through TV commercials, on its website, during over-the-counter consultations at shops and by creating shelf space at retailers based on daily activities.