Malaysia’s exports of rubber gloves in 2017 has hit an all-time high, benefitting from the synchronised recovery in global growth and demand. 

For the year 2017, exports grew at a robust pace of 19.4 per cent year-on-year (Y-O-Y) to RM15.9 billion compared with RM13.3 billion in the year 2016.

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.

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, will continue to vigorously undertake marketing efforts to increase awareness on glove use and to promote high quality gloves from Malaysia.  

“Other potential growing markets for rubber gloves that the Ministry is currently targeting to promote are our 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,” he added. 

United States remains Malaysia’s largest market for rubber gloves with a growth of 24 per cent to reach RM5.6 billion in 2017, from RM4.53 billion in 2016.

Meanwhile, China is one of the fastest growing markets with the exports value reached RM906.9 million in 2017 from RM362.2 million in 2016, recorded an incredible growth of 250 per cent.

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