When it comes to the disposable glove market, demand planning—pricing and inventory—is the focus of most conversations. We understand why: Clients want to know when it will return to a predictable state, similar to four or five years ago.
The disposable glove market was consistent for almost a decade, with stable prices and predictable growth, leading up to 2020. The key variables that shape it (production, logistics, distribution, etc.) had been well-optimized.
A fair amount of confusion tends to surround the thickness of single-use gloves.
Do not be alarmed! For all the claims by producers and vendors touting the superiority of their gloves based on how thick they are, it’s important to keep this in perspective: Glove thickness is not an exact science, nor is it the be-all, end-all measurement of disposable gloves.
Does quality control in disposable gloves matter?
Of course it does, but it is likely that every glove supplier views it differently.
At AMMEX, we directly inspect every shipment right at the factory—100% of them, unlike any other independent glove supplier. We work with dozens of factories and trust them to follow our detailed specifications. But, in the words of Ronald Reagan, we “trust, but verify.”
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.
Hey, industrial distributors! Are you looking to add a sweet source of profit?
If you’re not selling single-use gloves, you need to start. They’re a lucrative addition to any catalog. Let’s face it: Even if the pandemic is over (it isn’t), hand protection is central to promoting health, hygiene, and safety in any industry.
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.
“Workplace safety” may be a somewhat vague and generalized term, but it nevertheless carries huge significance for businesses of all sizes.
The trend toward workplace safety is clear over the last 30 to 40 years. In 1980, probably 1% of auto mechanics used disposable gloves. In 2022, that figure is much higher—and because it’s still relatively small in the context of the overall industry, there is lots of room to grow.
If you could use a dose of good news, try this: The return of Gloveworks Orange Nitrile Gloves (product code: GWON) with Raised Diamond Texture (RDT) is revving up both glove distributors and their customers.
“We love your gloves, and our customers love your gloves,” says distributor Manny M. “We couldn’t get what we needed for a good while, so I’m glad you guys have them again.
It’s being called a perfect storm. The global supply chain for a broad range of products is under unprecedented stress. Shipping congestion is both slowing down deliveries and driving up costs.
Disposable gloves are not exempt from the chaos. From labor shortages in Southeast Asia factories brought about by surges in COVID-19 cases, to scarcity of container vessels, to closed ports, to backed-up ships off the coast of California, countless products—including gloves—are not getting through.
Second of three parts.
On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that people vaccinated against the coronavirus are safe to go without face masks in most cases. That set off a round of debate: Should we abandon all mask mandates? Is the CDC crazy, especially with the Delta variant spreading?
About six weeks later, the World Health Organization urged even fully vaccinated people to continue wearing masks and practicing COVID-19 safety measures such as social distancing. The debate raged on.
