Ложные обвинения в Китае подорвали продажи подгузников Huggies и снизили прогнозы прибыли Kimberly-Clark

Manufacturer Kimberly-Clark, which has a site in Barrow, has said its second-quarter results for 2026 have been “negatively impacted by false allegations” surrounding its Huggies products in the China market. Chinese media reported in June that Huggies and two other brands – Babycare and Bibabebe – tested positive for formamide, a substance that can irritate the skin and eyes. Kimberly-Clark, which also produces Andrex and Kleenex, has labelled the allegations false – but said that sales have been impacted by the accusations which spread across social media. In its second quarter and first half 2026 results, published in August, the business cut its sales and profit forecasts – saying it now expects annual adjusted earnings per share growth in a high-single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis. This is down from earlier forecast double-digit growth. An official statement from Kimberly-Clark reads: “The Company noted that its second-quarter results were negatively impacted by a discrete disruption stemming from false allegations regarding the quality of certain diaper brands in the China market. “Independent testing conducted by a government-certified third party confirmed the quality and safety of the Company's products, refuting the false allegations. “While the Company is effectively navigating the situation, the impact from the spread of false claims across social media significantly impacted the Company's diaper sales in China in the second quarter and is expected to further impact sales and profits in the near term.” Despite the challenges, Kimberly-Clark reported a profit of $633 million for the quarter (compared to $592 million in 2025), while adjusted operating profit was $757 million, up 6.2 per cent versus the prior year. The company said results had been driven by one-time tariff refunds, strong productivity savings and favourable currency impacts, partially offset by business exits and social media disruption. One major local investment made by the business has been green energy – with the company proceeding with a £125 million hydrogen project in Barrow. In May, it was confirmed that the Carlton Power facility will supply the hydrogen to Kimberly-Clark’s site - helping to reduce gas usage by 50 per cent. Around 200 workers are set to be employed in the construction phase of the power facility, and 10 to 15 full-time roles could be created once it is operational. The predicted opening date is 2028 .