NEW YORK (July 26) — Condom sales in the U.S. should grow about 2.2 percent a year through 2010, according to recent research conducted by Packaged Facts.
The researcher, a division of MarketResearch.com, predicted sales to hit $444 million by 2010, up from $409 million this year.
The research looks into condoms made of latex, polyurethane and natural membranes and analyzes the performance of the top manufacturers, including Church & Dwight Co., SSL Americas Inc. and Ansell Healthcare Inc.
Packaged Facts found that about two-thirds of the U.S. condom market is aimed at the pleasure sector, rather than just contraception or protection from sexually transmitted diseases, and direct marketing at female customers has an impact on sales.
"Sexual intimacy products are competing with family planning products on retail shelves and the bundling of novelty condoms has opened up a whole new prospect for increased sales," Packaged Facts Publisher Don Montuori said.
"This co-marketing of pleasure-enhancing products along with high-visibility product placement is creating a greater awareness of and reducing consumers´ inhibitions of the purchasing of condoms which should foster increased market growth."
The report, "Condoms in the U.S.," is 146 pages long and costs $3,000.