South Korea: mask manufacturers ready to export their products

Audio 02:35

Between 80,000 and 100,000 masks leave the Neomed company every day. RFI / Stéphane Lagarde

By: Stéphane Lagarde Follow

Deconfinement is now in France, and to avoid a new epidemic outbreak masks are mandatory in public transport. Masks produced in particular in China, but also in South Korea where manufacturers are impatiently waiting to start exporting again. Report in Busan.

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The song of the mask is not the same depending on the design, the style ... for a bit, John Yoo would almost whistle, the melody of his machines! The steel arms cut out black masks by the kilometer, further on they are white.

“  Here you have the workshops, between 80,000 and 100,000 masks come out of here every day . "

Masks intended for the domestic market and produced on five assembly lines installed on the ground floor of this factory west of Busan, in the south of South Korea. But the boss of Neomed intends to increase the pace. New machines should arrive this week between the sky-colored walls of the family business, to prepare for the resumption of exports.

John Yoo: “  These masks were sold to 32 countries before. Exports are now on stand-by. We are waiting for the government to open the door to Korea, and we will resume our expeditions. We expect 30 more machines next month, they will work 24 hours a day . "

Line masks in a country which, despite its 123 factories and a production capacity of 14 million units / day, did not escape the shortage at the start of the epidemic. Result: exports of masks have been banned, sales regulated ... and now that the coronavirus seems to be under control in Korea, it is light masks that are difficult to find.

Lee Na-yong to the body of the supermarket, at the exit of the industrial area: "  I l have to go very fast because it masks for hand surgeons in the morning. The prices are higher, but for the others it has dropped a lot. There are no problems, especially the KF94.  "

KF94, equivalent to European FFP2 and American N95, capable of stopping microparticles and droplets full of coronavirus. A large metal kettle on the table, Mr. Yoo fills his masks with water as one would serve tea. Our masks filter better than those produced by Chinese neighbors, he assures us, this nanoparticle model in particular that South Korean manufacturers can export.

John Yoo: “  We have developed this nanoparticle mask which we can sell to France which is in short supply . »
Have other countries approached you? "A  lot. You cannot imagine. Italy, Iran, Kuwait, Dubai, Mexico, Brazil. Some have offered us twice the price including the Americans, the Germans, Malaysia, Indonesia, but first we want to serve France . "

And while waiting for French buyers, Mr. Yoo will have to continue producing for the domestic market where prices are falling. The health authorities intend to keep a strategic reserve of 100 million masks in the event of a new epidemic wave.

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  • South Korea
  • Coronavirus

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