The figure, up from the RM17 billion achieved in 2019, before the pandemic, was a projection by the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma), in its 2022 industry brief released today.

This is based on a 10% to 12% increase in demand for rubber gloves, a projection that plantation industries and commodities minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has described as “conservative”.

“In fact, I believe we can do better given that Margma has already identified new export markets that we can penetrate to ensure that our rubber gloves are still in high demand,” she said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Margma and Malaysian Rubber Council with 18 major sponsors of the upcoming 10th International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition (IRGCE).

The IRGCE will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Sept 6 to 8, 2022.

Zuraida also said that the need to use rubber gloves, following a global increase in hygiene culture, will simultaneously increase demand in the rubber gloves market.

“Margma has projected that the use of rubber gloves in the post-pandemic era is expected to increase by 10%,” she said.

Margma president Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam said industry players are navigating through a challenging time dealing with multiple dynamics with global risks including the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war.

“The association is, nevertheless, confident the industry will see a demand growth of 10% to 12% in 2022,” he said.

“As a consequence of increased global healthcare awareness and enhanced regulatory requirements, such demand will grow by 12% to 15% in 2023,” he said.

The global demand for gloves is estimated at 399 billion in 2022, and Malaysia is estimated to produce 240 billion gloves in 2022, according to Margma’s report.

“The Malaysian rubber gloves players, given their experience and long establishment, will be able to overcome these challenges but in order for Malaysia to maintain its leading trade position as the world’s number one exporter of rubber gloves, there is room for improvement in the government’s business-friendly policies that can be favourable to manufacturers, Supramaniam said.

“The Malaysian rubber glove industry will work closely with all stakeholders to strive to be amongst the first industry in the region to have social compliance as the industry’s unique selling proposition,” he added.