Second of four parts
Disposable glove factories, especially in SE Asia, continue to optimize their production lines and face issues with labor availability. Some of the world’s largest manufacturers of disposable gloves are working to return to profitability and have stated that it will take well into 2025 to do so.
First of four parts
In a unique way, the disposable glove market continues to work through an interesting set of circumstances initiated by the pandemic. The devil is always in the details and involves looking at operational factors beyond simple price comparisons.
Do you work with heavy machinery all day? Are you concerned about hand protection? (Hint: You should be.) Industrial needs for disposable gloves are multifaceted and often of great urgency.
Whether you’re running massive folding machines in a commercial laundry, using tools in countless applications to keep the equipment in top shape—or performing countless other jobs—you need to know your hands are safe. You never know when a sharp edge, abrasive surface, chemicals, or another potentially harmful object or substance could inflict serious injuries.
In today’s marketplace, measuring the quality of products is inescapable.
Buy something online? Oh, look—you got a survey email. Send in a product registration card? You, too, are the lucky recipient of a survey. Go to your doctor? A survey is not uncommon. Simply have lunch at your favorite fast-food establishment? Guess what—they want your opinion too.
Last in a series
Currency has real impact on disposable glove prices. The currency exchange rate has been favorable to U.S. buyers in the single-use glove market the last few months, with a strong dollar trading at its highest rate in 20 years. If the dollar should stumble, glove prices are likely to feel upward pressure.
That is why it’s important to monitor international markets closely. If you hear the dollar is weakening, be prepared—and prepare your customers for what could lie ahead.
Second of four parts
Pre-pandemic, China was a minor player in the nitrile disposable glove market. Post-pandemic, it has substantially grown its overall nitrile production capacity and is expected to grow it further.
In the single-use glove industry, factories—especially in Malaysia, the world’s No. 1 glove-producing nation—continue to have utilization challenges, with some operating at as low as 20% capacity, and others in the 40%-50% range.
If you work with heavy machinery or use tools all day on the job, there is a significant risk to your hands from sharp edges, abrasive surfaces, chemicals, and other potentially harmful objects or substances.
When it comes to hand protection for hazardous environments, you want Gloveworks Nitrile with Raised Diamond Texture (RDT) on your side. These gloves stand up to the rigors of tools and machinery while also delivering dexterity, durability, and—maybe best of all—comfort.
In the food service market, price can be an outsized factor for single-use gloves. With a lot of eateries operating on razor-thin margins, operators often must be frugal.
At the same time, safety and hygiene are paramount when working with food. That makes disposable gloves much more than simple accessories—they are vital tools in preventing contamination and ensuring the safety of both staff and customers (and, ultimately, the business).
The disposable glove industry is not widely known for its dedication to customer service.
That is, of course, not a universal statement; many vendors have good, even great, relationships with customers. For the most part, though, the disposable glove industry is where one business sells a commodity to another: It’s purely transactional.
