Gloves’ Journey to U.S. Markets Begins Half a World Away

A container ship sails on the ocean with a cloudy sky.

International shipping is another cost variable that exerts outsized influence on the price of disposable gloves.

Ocean freight rates in 2023 have been on a steady decline for shipping containers from SE Asia to U.S. West Coast ports. Experts fear transport companies will try to force up prices by making fewer voyages and leaving containers behind, delaying the delivery of goods.

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Production Costs Set Foundation for Disposable Glove Pricing

Disposable glove formers hang upside down on a production line.

The three primary variables that have an often outsized impact on the single-use glove market are production, international logistics, and U.S. market conditions. Within those variables are a number of sub-variables that can move in opposite directions and in different timelines.

Production happens primarily in Southeast Asia, where up to 80% of single-use gloves are made. The biggest glove-making countries are Malaysia and Thailand—which have dominated the glove trade for years—Vietnam, and Indonesia. China is also a growing player in the global market.

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These Nitrile Gloves Get the Job Done in Multiple Industries

There are a lot of niche needs in the manufacturing sector. However, once again the issue boils down to the job is more important than the industry. What matters most to your customers? Is it grip, thickness, chemical resistance? Do they still use latex but should be using nitrile?

It’s a complex question because the category is so large—but a few gloves will cover most needs across the widest spectrum of industries:

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It’s No Mystery: Understanding Industrial, Exam Glove Distinctions

A pair of hands wearing single-use indigo-colored gloves as the right hand stretches the glove on the left hand.

We often encounter confusion about different types of disposable gloves and which is the right choice for any given job.

A great example is “surgical gloves.” You may have heard or seen—in media coverage or TV police procedurals—a criminal said to be wearing surgical gloves while committing a crime, whether it’s a bank heist or (shudder) a serial killer at work.

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