Procter & Gamble deploys new technology to make razors, blades in Vietnam

U.S.-headquartered consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) is deploying new technologies for expanding its production line of razors and razor blades slated for export to Asia-Pacific markets.

P&G vice president Nitin Darbari told Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at a Monday meeting in Hanoi that the new technologies are currently available only in the U.S. and Germany.

He praised the Vietnamese government's efforts in making the country a foreign investment hub and overcoming global headwinds to achieve economic growth of 5.05% last year.

P&G considers Vietnam one of its strategic markets and aims to establish the country as a regional manufacturing hub and a sustainable supply source for its other markets, he said.

Deputy PM Quang reaffirmed the Vietnamese government’s commitment to constantly improve the business environment and create favorable conditions for foreign enterprises to do long-term business in the country.

He asked P&G to consider expanding its partnership with Vietnamese firms and facilitating their entry into its global supply chain and pay greater attention to human resources training.

Quang also expressed the hope that P&G, together with other American companies, would call on the U.S. administration to recognize Vietnam’s market economy status.

Since beginning its Vietnam investments in 1995, P&G has poured some $450 million into the country to date, recruited over 830 workers and created indirect jobs for over 5,000 others.

It currently operates two plants in Vietnam, both in the southern province of Binh Duong province, that produce fabric conditioners Ariel and Downy, dishwashing detergent Joy, fabric freshener Febreze, and Gillette razors.

In May 2023, P&G revealed a plan to upgrade one of its plants, aiming to increase its annual production of razors and razor blades from 511.6 million to 700 million. It would also manufacture 630 million razor parts and use 452.7 million items a year from inside and outside Vietnam for the final stages of production.

In January, it announced an increase in the annual output of chemical consumer goods by nearly 50% to 487,431 tons.