KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 6): Glove supply-demand equilibrium is expected within six to nine months, according to Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) president Dr Supramaniam Shanmugan.

"Based on our association's estimates and our data, normalisation of equilibrium conditions will occur within six to nine months," Supramaniam told reporters on Tuesday (Sept 6), after the 10th International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition held in conjunction with the 3rd International Rubber Industry Convention and Expo and the Rubber Conference 2022.

"The depletion of inventory in the pipeline will bring about normalcy equilibrium between production capacity utilisation and global demand. The [glove] industry is also advancing in the areas of [the] recycling economy with new raw materials, additives and substances that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable," he said.

Furthermore, the local glove business will do marginally better than in 2019, said Supramaniam, adding that glove average selling prices are expected to reach pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels of about US$20 (RM89.84) to US$25 per thousand pieces.

According to Supramaniam, global demand for rubber gloves is expected to be around 399 billion pieces for 2022, with year-on-year growth expected at 10% to 12%.

“Last-mile automation will be aggressively continued. Malaysian producers currently have the capability to produce at an advanced speed of 42,000 to 45,000 pieces of gloves per hour, from a low of 3,000 pieces per hour 12 years ago.

“Way back in 2008, it took us 9.7 workers per one million gloves per month. However, due to investments in continuous automation, we expect to hit — by 2024 — 1.5 workers per one million gloves per month,” he added.

He observed that each subsequent epidemic or pandemic continued to drive awareness and use of rubber gloves, as was the case of the recent Covid 19 pandemic and the emergence of monkeypox.

The US continued to be the biggest consumption market, with 75 pairs of gloves used per capita, followed by Europe at 50 pairs per capita, while China and India averaged two to three pairs per capita.

“The industry expects low-per-capita countries in Africa to be the new market for growth,” Supramaniam said.