Malaysia on track for record year in rubber glove exports

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's exports of rubber gloves in the first half of 2017 increased 25% to RM7.95bil compared to RM5.28bil in the same period last year,  Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong revealed during a meeting with leaders from the rubber industry on Friday.

The high export growth in the first six months of 2017 signalled that the rubber glove sector is on track to record an outstanding new high in export sales of RM16bil in the full year of 2017, an increase of 20% compared to RM13.28bil recorded for the whole year in 2016,” he said on Friday.

Rubber gloves have been the largest contributor to the Malaysian rubber products industry. The export sales of rubber gloves accounted for over 70% of the total exports of rubber products, amounting to RM11.4bil for the first six months of 2017.

Mah believes the local industry is on track to secure at least 65% share of global rubber glove exports by 2020, given that the industry is expanding production capacity and improving manufacturing processes to meet growing demand for higher quality medical gloves in major emerging markets.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) and Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) projects that world demand for rubber gloves will increase from 211 billion pieces in 2016 to 287 billion pieces by 2020.