Malaysia to continue dominating global glove market, says Mah

Over the recent quarter, the rubber glove industry has weathered the worst, given the sharp deterioration in operational earnings per glove.

KUALA LUMPUR: Given the strong export performance in 2017, Malaysia is expected to continue dominating the world market for rubber gloves, especially medical gloves, for use in the healthcare sector.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the industry is confident of achieving the target of securing at least 65 per cent of global exports of rubber gloves in 2020.

“In 2017, global exports of rubber gloves were estimated at 228 billion pieces and is projected to reach 287 billion by 2020,” he said in a statement today.

Last year, Malaysia's exports of rubber gloves hit an all-time high, benefitting from the synchronised recovery in global growth and demand.

 For 2017, exports grew at a robust pace of 19.4 per cent year-on-year to RM15.9 billion compared with RM13.3 billion previously.

Mah recently attended a meeting with captains of the industry, organised by the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC).

In this regard, he said his ministry, via the MREPC would continue to vigorously undertake marketing efforts at increasing awareness of glove use, and promote the high quality gloves from Malaysia.

The other potential growing markets for rubber gloves that the ministry is currently targeting are ASEAN member countries, particularly the Philippines and Myanmar.

“MREPC has identified several programmes to enhance awareness on the importance of glove use in the healthcare sector and to promote quality made-in-Malaysia rubber medical gloves,” Mah added.

Malaysia is currently the world's largest supplier of rubber gloves, capturing more than 60 per cent of the global market in volume.

China is one of the fastest growing markets with the export value reaching RM906.9 million in 2017 from RM362.2 million in 2016 (growth of 250 per cent). - Bernama