One of the most common questions we get, whether from calls to our customer service line or asked of our reps at trade shows, is “Are disposable gloves food safe?”
Most modern disposable glove factories produce a high percentage of products without defects. It could even be as high as 99 percent—but even a 1% failure rate is too much when you are sourcing thousands of containers a year.
AMMEX has been in business for more than 35 years. During that time, except for a few divergences, we have been intensely focused on disposable gloves. We think about them all the time—and not many companies can say that.
As 2024 winds down, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to establish consistent and predictable supply—especially at volume—while keeping costs in check. Along with reliable supply, the benchmarks of quality, compliance, and sustainability continue to become more important in the disposable glove market.
The dangers of fentanyl have been widely reported. The drug, developed in 1959 as an intravenous analgesic and anesthetic, is one of the most abused synthetic opioids in North America and a primary driver of overdose deaths among young people.
The disposable glove market faces several unique cost drivers that impact the industry. Prices are expected to rise due to factors including increased factory utilization rates, higher prices for raw materials, and a weakening U.S. dollar.
The disposable glove market continues to have several unique cost drivers impacting the industry. Factories have reduced the number of production lines from pandemic highs, increasing utilization rates and reducing excess supply. Raw materials, from chemicals to synthetic rubber, are rising in cost. Other drivers, such as labor supply in Southeast Asia, packaging material increases, logistics, and a weakening U.S. dollar, are also playing a role.
The U.S. government is increasing tariffs on a variety of Chinese products worth tens of billions of dollars. They have been billed as part of ongoing efforts to protect American factories and include an increase of tariffs on exam/medical-grade nitrile gloves from the current 7.5% to 50% on January 1, 2025 with a further increase to 100% on January 1, 2026.