One of the most expanding industries in the world right now is the sex toy industry. It provides us with what has become the everyday masturbation and pleasure staples, such as the massager vibrator, fleshlight, and all sorts of exciting BDSM gimmicks. This industry has its roots deep in a lot of countries in the world – and India is not exempt. In fact, according to Guptt.in, an online retailer of adult toys, the sexual wellness market has been valued at around $453 million in 2015 and the trend is estimated to reach $1.6 billion by 2020!
Who buys sex products in India?
In India, the principal helper for bringing these sorts of products is your average Indian Millennial. Most buyers are between 25-34 years old and not only are they the ones who buy most of these products but they do it repeatedly. On the other hand, people who are 45 years old or older tend to buy more expensive pleasure gadgets due to higher purchasing power. And if you ask who spends more – demographically speaking – women take home the first prize! They tend to spend 18 % more than men.
Back in the 80s and 90s, the demographic group which was a little more informed about the use of sex toys were actually men. Due to exposure to porn, condoms, lubricants, and pleasure gimmicks were yesterday’s news to guys. Remember, this was the time long before the sex toy industry really started to expand in India. But as people all over the world started to feel more comfortable with the idea of using these intimate helpers, the statistics started to shift in women’s favor and the overall attitude was pushed out in the open.
Nowadays, things are pretty balanced. People are really into exploring their pleasure centers, to the point that one of the fastest selling toys are the prostate massagers. Additionally, India Uncovered study also says that a lot of men show interest in the delay sprays that prevent premature ejaculation and promote longevity.
Where are the most sex toys sold?
India Uncovered says that the metropolis cities are the biggest markets with the highest demands being in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi. But there are increasing demands in cities like Coimbatore, Indore, Guwahati, and Surat, which have a 25 % growth.
The best sellers are lubricants and intimate massagers but a lot of different products are sought after too. This includes sexy lingerie (the edible ones, too) and role-play costumes where the nurse outfit takes the win in this category. Even some kinkier stuff like handcuffs or BDSM products have shown a great improvement in overall sales.
Conclusion
However, as many of you know – selling sex toys in India is still illegal. The good part is that there are some gray areas to navigate through. A lot of people use the loopholes in state laws and regulation irregularities to be able to sell these types of products. For example, even Amazon openly sells some of these products in India.
But, of course, not all products can be sold on the Indian market. Things like dildos are prohibited. A vibrator, on the other hand, can be sold because it can look like a pencil and is not considered obscene. Still, even with the current prohibition law, the Indian market keeps on growing. Once again, estimates tell us that in 2020 the value of pleasure wellness market will reach above $1.6 billion. That is a tremendous leap in just 5 years!
More and more people are discovering that sex toys are not reserved solely for masturbation but that they can be used for couple’s therapy and spicing up relationships. Even though the stigma around the sex toy market remains, the future will most likely negate it. Remember, India is not the only country that is walking the line. Countries like the Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are sure to follow those footsteps.
