For the first time in two years, the coronavirus is not the No. 1 issue affecting global markets. Instead, oil prices—and the war in Ukraine—have become the top disruptors slowing trade and driving up costs.
That doesn’t mean COVID is going away just yet. Governments have been lifting restrictions imposed to slow its spread, including rules governing travel, socializing, mask wearing, and self-isolation. But still it lingers, and in some countries it is thriving.
Other than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, headlines this year have been dominated by soaring oil and gas prices. In some parts of the U.S., gas has surpassed $6 a gallon.
Expensive fuel, of course, has a ripple effect throughout global economies. The disposable glove industry is no exception.
Disposable gloves are an invaluable tool in kitchens around the globe. From making burger patties to mixing salads to plating and serving food, they protect against cross-contamination as well as keeping hands safe from chemicals and cleaning solutions.
We often get questions about the suitability of using disposable gloves over an open flame like a grill. Distributor partners say their customers inquire about using disposables when cooking, and which material is best in those situations.
Economies around the globe are in turmoil. High demand, market pressures—and the conflict in eastern Europe and its consequent political instability—are driving gas and oil prices higher, and countless industries are feeling the pain.
Last week oil reached $130 a barrel and may go even higher (although the price came down a bit as the week began). The worst-case forecast has been raised to $240 a barrel, and the high prices could lead to a global recession as soon as this year.
Here’s a 2022 trend that’s worth sharing: We’re seeing more and more customers who love Gloveworks Industrial Black Nitrile gloves taking a step up to Gloveworks with Raised Diamond Texture (RDT).
Those black nitrile gloves (product code: GPNB) have for years been a mainstay of AMMEX’s product line. At 5 mils thick, they deliver all the barrier protection customers need for a variety of chemicals while also featuring the best traits nitrile has to offer (excellent fit and feel, puncture resistance, tactile sensitivity).
If you sell disposable gloves for a living, you should be excited about the return of Gloveworks Nitrile with Raised Diamond Texture (RDT). They present an awesome opportunity for distributors because they drive more revenue than standard gloves.
Our top-of-the-line gloves—a favorite with end-users for the better part of a decade—were largely out of stock for the last two years because of supply complications from COVID-19.
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.
The AMMEX Online Portal is much more than just a convenient way to order disposable gloves. It also offers resources to help you manage your business, content to engage and connect with your customers, and training materials for your team to sell more gloves.
The Sales Support page contains such valuable tools as a glove sizing chart, chemical resistance chart, glove chart and glove flyer templates, top product flyers—and in an exciting development, glove samples.
If you thought that 2022 would bring quick resolution to the worldwide supply chain disruption, you’ll want to rethink that position.
Havoc at ports is showing no signs of declining. Prices for a vast array of goods continue to rise. Any real progress will require investment, technology and a refashioning of incentives across global business. It will take more ships, additional warehouses, and an influx of truck drivers.
The disposable glove market is still on the mend. Recovery from the supply shortages brought on by the pandemic—as well as higher prices for most gloves, especially nitrile—has been a long time coming.
For nearly two years, distributors have had to take what they could get from manufacturers. That often meant vinyl and thinner nitrile gloves made up the bulk of shipments, which left end-users pining for heavy-duty nitrile and distributors scrambling to find acceptable substitutes.
