Malaysia is set to maintain the spot of the world’s number one rubber glove producer with 133.6 billion gloves estimated to be produced this year, commanding an estimated 63% of world market share, according to Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) president Dennis Low.

MARGMA also says export revenue from rubber gloves is expected to reach a record high of RM14.3billion this year, up 14%, from RM13.1billion achieved last year.

In the first quarter, revenue from Malaysia’s rubber glove exports hit RM3.2billion and moving forward, it could reach as high as RM4billion per quarter.

Low said that the global demand for rubber gloves is still strongly driven by the healthcare sector. Estimated global demand this year is 212.2 billion gloves, which means 6,728 gloves are used every second, according to him.

“We expect the industry to remain resilient with annual growth estimated at least between eight and 10%,” he said at a press conference.

Earlier, Low witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MARGMA, the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council and major partners/exhibitors, for the 8th International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for September 6 to 8 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Low said that healthy competition among local rubber glove manufacturers is good and they are more concerned with external competitors.

Thailand ranked second as a global glove producer with an estimated market share of 21% for this year, followed by China (5%) and Indonesia (3%).