Global diaper supply threatened after Japan plant explosion

The world diaper supply could see a shortage after an explosion at a Japanese chemical plant which produces one fifth of the global market for babies.

The Daily Telegraph reported a blast at the Nippon Shokubai Co. near Osaka, Japan killed a firefighter and injured 35 others, after a fire broke out on Saturday that sparked a series of explosions.

"Global production of diapers could be affected because the plant makes the key ingredient in a resin used in them," NBC News reported.

Nippon Shokubai is the world's top maker of water-absorbing polymers. The company will be setting up other production faculties while the plant is offline, the Telegraph reported.

The company said that demand has been so high it's been working at full capacity, partly to keep up with the new growing demand for disposable diapers in mainland China, the Telegraph explained.