Pressure on glove makers expected to ease soon

THE profit margins of major glove makers have been under intense pressure for a few months now due to the rising cost of raw materials, in particular, natural rubber or latex. The situation, however, is not expected to last much longer.

The light at the end of the tunnel is likely to be just a month or two away from now, as natural latex prices are expected to ease soon. For one thing, the wintering season for most rubber trees would be over by next month, while the flood situation in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia which has temporarily disrupted latex supply from those regions is expected to improve as the weather gets better.